Thinking about Love

This week-end, my son will be getting married. It has taken him a long time to make up his mind to even get married, let alone who to marry. But love found its way into his heart through a young lady has known for many years. They "bumped" into each other over a year ago and decided to start hanging out. Then things got serious. Love blumed and they are now ready to tie the knot.

I cannot help to think back on those naive days in my own life when I met and started to get to know the beautiful young lady I have been calling my wife for over 41 years. We had so much fun getting to know one another and became friends before we started really getting serious. Then the day came when I asked her to bemy wife while standing on the front porch of the dormitory where she was staying on the campus of Arkansas State University. And when she said "yes," she really meant it.

It is very interesting to me that Beverly and I are products of the free-love era of the 1960's, yet we both had "old fashioned" mores and morals that have sustained us through 41 years of marriage. We wanted the freedom of youth, but we were also guided by the strong Christian principles ingrained in us by our parents.

Many years ago, I heard a joke that went like this. A couple married 50 years stood in front of a judge asking for a divorce. When pressed as to why they were separating after so many years, the couple replied, "'Enough is enough!" I have to say that I just don't think I will ever get enough of life with Beverly Sennett. I not only love her, I like her, I trust her, and I truly appreciate her. She is the center of my world, and I'm happy my life is like that.

I was recently asked by one of my students at Palm Beach Community College, "How did you do it?" I had to think a moment then replied, "I guess I just decided that I like my wifes positives more than I dislike her negatives and never looked back." Believe me, I do not work at staying married, I simply try to be the best "me" I can be and then get the most out of everyday that God gives me.

A long marriage begins with two people who are already happy being themselves. Then they simply stay together--no matter what. It's really not that hard.