Part of my routine is to write cards for couples on their anniversary. It is a small gesture, really, to put pen to paper and remember the beginnings of a marriage. Sometimes John and I meet them for coffee to chat, or drop by. Hearing the memories of that day years ago stirs up a reserve of sweetness that seems to keep on
giving.
One couple told us about the mishaps that tried to squelch their special day. But with the perspective of twenty years they could laugh. Another showed us photographs, which were a much smaller deal in the eighties than they are in 2024.
Another woman told us about a car that wouldn't start as they were leaving for their honeymoon, and yet she was too elated to be upset.
A widow found
comfort in telling us about her beloved husband, and my heart ached for what it is like to keep going without him by her side.
I observe that people often share stories about their children. It is common to pull out your phone to pass around the latest selfies of your kids and grandkids. It is a way of spreading the joy. Yet there is less space to speak of the good things in our marriages. I wonder why that is. Perhaps we are reluctant to boast. Or maybe we
forget to notice them ourselves.
One of my favorite parts of meeting with couples is to ask what they appreciate about each other. It blesses me to hear it. It makes the speaker smile, too. And it warms the heart of the spouse being spoken of.