All The Things We've Never Done, Our 10th Wedding Anniversary
My husband, Guy and I—we had big plans for all the things we would do and all the places we would go as a married couple. I had ideas and expectations for each of our anniversaries. For our 5th, I planned a trip to somewhere warm and tropical. Our 10th would be spent in Italy and Greece, sipping wine and eating pasta in the warm country sunshine or swimming off the age-old shores while drinking in the salty air.
My wedding ring would be adorned with a layer of yellow and pink diamonds on the outer bands—a gorgeous sparkler that as a jeweler’s daughter, I used to dream about long before I was ever married.
This week, we celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. It’s been an emotional week. Not because we never made it to a tropical island, Italy or Greece. Not because my wedding band is void of colorful diamond additions.
But, it IS emotional because of all the things we’ve never done.
We’ve never been unfaithful.
Never been untrue.
We’ve never walked away, even when it would have been easier.
We’ve never divided our children up on weekends or slept in separate houses.
We’ve never given up on one another.
We’ve never considered that a different life would have been a better life or that the smoother road would lead to fulfillment.
Those are the things we’ve never done that really matter.
Nope, we can’t show you pictures of far off lands or living the high life. I wouldn’t trade all the romantic trips in the world in exchange for true romance—for true love. It turns out that the Bible has it exactly right. Here’s the recipe for a truly lasting marriage:
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
(I Corinthians 13:4-7, The MSG)
I’m so thankful that I get to keep going to the end with Guy. That he has never given up on me. I’m not looking back with any regrets about all the expectations that were never met. I’m thankful for all the anniversaries over home-cooked meals with happy kids and years of committed faithfulness that money can’t buy.
Here’s to many more years of all the things we’ve never done!
P.S. Prepare to tear up when you play Martina McBride's song, below!