Happy 53rd Wedding Anniversary Mom and Dad!
Because I think we should always be learning from those who are farther along on the journey, I asked my parents if I could interview them today. They were happy to oblige.
You’ve been married 53 years. If you have to pass along 3 strategies that you believe have made a difference in the longevity of your marriage, what would they be?
MOM: Prayer, respect and enjoying one another’s company.
DAD: Willingness to forgive, constant sharing of care of family, home and church responsibilities, sexual compatability. (Jill’s note: That’s four Dad…you just had to get sex in there, didn’t you? 🙂
When we were little, what did you do to stay connected in your marriage?
MOM: We had babysitters so we could get an evening out occasionally. I would try to accompany your Dad to overnight conferences. It was very romantic to be alone in a hotel room with my husband without children.
DAD: We learned to lock the bedroom doors when necessary. We learned to accept our differences. For example, Mom is very verbal about what is going on while I am more closed-mouth about issues and events.
As you can see, Mom and Dad have a great sense of humor.
How has God used marriage to mature you personally?
MOM: God has been important to our marriage since we met. We met counseling at church camp and we were both very active in our home churches and older youth programs. We have both encouraged one another in what ever the other was doing, whether it be work or church work. Knowing God is with me in what ever I do has been most important to me in our relationship. We have had our bumps in the road as all marriages do, but we have learned how to forgive and forget. We learned that through God’s loving us.
DAD: As I have grown older in years, I have had to realize that sex is much less important and companionship much more important in marriage. I think God knew that all along, but I didn’t. We haven’t had 53 years of absolute bliss all the time; we have had 53 years of joy much of the time, times of ecstasy at other times, moments of intense grief, and a big change from parenting to the pleasures of grandparenting and great-grandparenting.
Any other thoughts or wisdom to pass along? MOM: Stay connected through your child rearing years. Many people put children and work above their spouse. When you have an empty nest you wonder who this stranger is you married. When you stay connected you look forward to that empty nest and enjoy life together.
DAD: Ditto
What about you? Do you need to put your marriage before your kids? Accept your spouse’s differences? Get a babysitter more often? Today’s a great day to stop making excuses and start making plans for investing in your marriage!
awesome!! thanks for sharing and may God continue to bless your marriage. Mr and Mrs Fleener. we are praying you through, Jill… every time I hear It Is Well, I remember it was a church friend, John’s, favorite hymn. it became even more significant when he learned of his pancreatic cancer. be well. j’lynn
This is great, Jill! Thanks to your parents for sharing their wisdom!
A friend of mine and I were talking about divorce yesterday, and she shared something she had heard recently. There will be times when we can’t stand our kids, but we (I hope) wouldn’t dream of walking away from them. Why should it be any different with our spouses during the difficult seasons that are inevitable? She also shared some wisdom from a man who’d been married for 50+ years. When asked how his marriage had lasted so long, he said he picked the right person and kept his promise.
I love that simple answer, Erin, “picked the right person and kept his promise.” Beautiful.
I work as a speech therapist in nursing homes, and one of my favorite questions to ask my residents who have been married for 50+ years is if they have any advice for me and my husband (who have been married 4+ years). I hear a lot of responses about forgiveness, compromise, helping each other, prayer, putting your spouse first, and one “you have to figure it out for yourself.” 😉 Just last week I worked with a lady who’s been married 70 years! What a blessing to be able to learn from those who have so much more experience than us.
Those who get married face the same problems. They don’t go away. I have been married for 18 years and will continue to ‘work’ on my marriage. He is also right about happiness. Too much emphasis has been placed on being happy.”I’m not HAPPY” is what many people say and then try and find it with someone else. Focus on your blessings and you will continue and appreciate being blessed.