Yup, 50 years ago today a young man (he was young then) and a young lady (she's still young, of course) walked up the aisle to stand in front of the altar to promise before God that they would supporrt one another on the way to heaven for as many years as He would give them on this earth. So here they are, 50 years later, still alive and still saying nice things about one another behind one another's back. I know, it happened in front of me.
The young man is an interesting study in priesthood. He spent four years in the seminary and then left. He left the seminary but never left his vocation. He never did get ordained and is therefore not an "ex opere, operato" priest. But his entire life has been a continuous mission in the "ex opere, operantis" priesthhood. He has helped more people to find God and to follow Jesus than a lot of priests who stand at the altar, preach, distribute communion and then run off to the race track, the golf course or the football game. None of them has five children, one of who requires life-long, physical and emotional attention. Now, that is dedication. That is ordination of a different stripe, but one just as demanding as the one we all see every Sunday, protected from some very harsh realities of the "real world."
The young lady is a priest too. How else would she be able to offer the sacrifice of her body, heart and soul to a large family, including her aging mother on the demanding altar of matrimonial vows? She was blessed. She had more practice in a large family than her husband...she was (is still) the youngest of 12 children. Who knows, maybe that's the secret.
As happy an occasion as a golden wedding anniversary can be, it also carries with it the cargo of all those years. A mixed bag of good, bad and ugly. A mixed bag of frustrations and consolations. A mixed bag of miracles for and miracles for which they are still waiting. One thing for sure is that the greatest miracle is the grace to still be supporting one another on the road to Christian perfection in view of the Eternal Prize. It takes two saints to get this far. It takes one constant miracle being accepted and practiced by them to make it happen.
Marriage is really a priesthood. We don't do it for ourselves. We do it for the other persons that it puts into our lives. It is like the priesthood of Jesus Himself. We die to ourselves every single day. After 50 years we remember a lot of happy things. We look back and tell ourselves that it feels just like yesterday. That's a miracle too. Imagine finding happiness and consolation of having kept on the straight and narrow for so long? Imagine finding happiness in an imperfect situation? Imagine God filling souls with the ability to stick by Him, just like His Son did while shedding blood and being humiliated in public? Now that, is a priestly sacrifice.
So I have to say in conclusion that I am proud to say that this young man and this young lady are my brother and my sister-in-law. They are saintly examples of selfless sacrificial dedication to Our Father, His Son and His Holy Spirit on this very earth. I am so happy for them and happy to be a part of them that it would be wrong for any of you to cry at my funeral...and theirs too.
Happy 50th to you and all who have known you for all these years. I won't wish you 50 more. I will wish you a hand-in-hand walk with God through the garden of life for the amount that He will give you. Then you will be blessed because when you get to the Pearly Gates you won't have to put up with the grouchy gate keeper.
Paul and Belle
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OK. So, here I sit, two days following our beautiful 50th wedding anniversary celebration, and a million or so thoughts are running through my head, and they are coupled by the same number of feelings running through my heart! So many acknowledgements. . .so much support. . .and an overwhelming overdose of love have filled me to the brim. I fear that it may be impossible to contain so much without bursting! Gratitude has managed to wedge its way into the host of feelings as well, but how do I begin to express it? I am limited to "words," and they cannot convey accurately enough what I am feeling! What am I grateful for? To begin with, I am grateful to God for bringing Denis and me together 50 years ago and for His faithfulness and providential care throughout those 50 years. We never would have made it, had He not been leading the way. . .and more often than not. . .carrying us along the way! He blessed me with a faith-filled, faithful and loving husband who has loved me (more often than not, despite myself) and who has supported me in ALL of my endeavors throughout those 50 years; a husband who always has cooperated with God's plan in all facets of our marriage, the most important of which I consider to be spiritual growth. Our marriage resulted in our merging into two extended families -- the Dions and the Fourniers. I have many wonderful memories of events and love shared with both families. Gratitude must be extended to each one for the creation of those memories and for their continued love and support over the years. How could we ever have survived without them?!? Within the first seven years of our marriage, we became parents to five wonderful children -- Wayne, Edward, Christopher, Lisa and Laurie. Our life became busy and challenging as toddlers became adolescents, teenagers and adults, each with their own unique talents, gifts and challenges. The road wasn't always neatly paved and smooth, but the bumps along the way kept us focused on God, and somehow His love, and our love for each other, managed to smooth out the bumps and to deepen our family love and commitment to each other. Four of these five children produced for us ten super grandchildren. How does one describe the special love that exists between a grandchild and a grandparent? Again, words do not suffice! Grandchildren are among God's greatest gifts! Denis and I have several names to which we answer now: Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Mémère, Poppy, Grandmama, Grandpapa, Bomma, Bompa, Gram, Gramps, Mops, Pops. Each name has its own special sound and meaning. . .each one adding to the love we feel in our hearts. How do we express proper gratitude for the love of children and grandchildren? Our life (and our special anniversary) has been, and continues to be, profoundly blessed by their presence, love and support. They and God are the nourishment that sustains us every day! So, as I continue my journey in this vocation called marriage, although I do not know what the future has in store, I remain confident in the love and support that Denis and I will continue to receive from God and all of the wonderful family and extended family members He has placed in our life. And, I remain humbly grateful to each and every one.
Anna May
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