A tribute to my wife of 50 years.

It has been 50 years since Judy and I pledged our love and faithfulness and to one another before God. When a couple promises this “for better or for worse” they have no idea of what they are committing to. What we did commit to was to follow the Lord and build a life together no matter what.

Although we expect to live happily ever after, The Bible informs us “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.” (Psalm 90:10, ESV). That is to say that we have weathered much toil and trouble together by God’s grace. At times, our commitment to God has held us together. But mostly, for our part, we have tried to love another and continue to work at it.

50 years is a long time, and as the psalmist says we have faced much toil and trouble. Along with the pleasant and good circumstances, God has put us in extremely difficult situations to serve him. You have shared in those experiences as well.

Especially during the last 10 years, my life has been toilsome and troublesome, particularly for Judy. She has faced sleepless days and nights, crashed in waiting room chairs, and shouldered the details of my care during my hospital stays. At home, her love “for better or for worse” has been shown in demanding, unrelenting, difficult, and unpleasant acts of kindness and devotion.

Judy has shown herself to be a wonder woman in many dimensions: keeping track of my infirmities and ailments, researching and supervising my care, providing much of my needed care, tracking my medications, and so on. Remarkably, she has maintained a cheerful, loving, and unselfish attitude. I thank God for her.

Her goal has long been to emulate the wife of Proverbs 31 and she has.
“An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.
She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.” (Proverbs 31:10–31, ESV)

I thank the Lord for giving me such a wonderful wonder woman as my wife! And I thank you for your love and devotion to me. You are truly amazing! I love you.