Sunday, January 8, we were honored with a reception after the worship service. A nice group stayed and enjoyed a taste of cake and punch! Our pastor had us gather in a large circle, holding hands she offered a prayer for us and then opened the prayer to anyone who wanted to add something. . .there was a long silence. . .then one by one our friends added a thanksgiving for something we had done for them. . .things in our distant memory. . .overwhelming! This was an unexpected event after which I made a difficult speech. . .unrehearsed! Fumbling for words, I was able to share our celebration at Lake Tahoe with family! I told them of the questions I had asked our grandkids. . .about who you guess was the troublemaker in our marriage!! They chuckled at the answer! How do you correct the trouble? I asked? When Joel quickly added, "You say I'm sorry!" Our friends responded!!! and readily agreed with Joel that the correct response was to look each other in the eye and really mean it! We received many cards and personal comments. . .we had no expectations only a fun time together but went home pleasantly exhausted! It was a grateful reminder that the little things we do for others, hospital visits, taking a loaf of bread to someone hurting, sharing our cabin with a terminal cancer friend, taking that step towards others often when you don't feel like it. . .all were reminders of what someone said, "People don't remember all you do for them but how you make them feel."
Our 60Th Anniversary is not a bragging time but a time of thanksgiving. . .that our Creator God has given us time together and given us wisdom to forgive and grow in our faith and commitment to each other and to our family. You all are the true riches of our lives!
