November 19, 2013 marks 47 years since my parents said “I Do”. They are almost at 50 years! Whew! That is a long time. I used to think there’s no way they could still be in love after all this time (LOL), but I have to say they are more in love now than ever before. After seven kids, twelve grandkids and one great-grandchild, they still understand the meaning of true love. They’ve had their share of ups and downs. They’ve withstood the test of time, change, and probably most challenges that a lot of couples face in marriage (and then some). No matter what challenges they face, they demonstrate on a daily basis what it really means to “love, honor and cherish”.
So I asked them what were the top things that have gotten them to this point in their marriage that they are able to celebrate year number 47. And here is what they had to say:
1. God. I’ve said it before, but now you can see the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. My parents have always put Him first in their lives, and agree there is no way they could do it without Him. They also have deep faith for Our Lady, the Mother of Jesus, who they know has been instrumental in helping them do what they’re supposed to do as husband and wife.
2. True Love. The love they have for each other and for their children has strengthened their relationship. They appreciate each other in every moment that they have together.
3. Letting go. They have the understanding that nobody is perfect, and they don’t expect each other to be. Do they make mistakes? Of course. But nothing is more important than the sustainability of their union.
4. Patience. You know the saying, “patience is a virtue”? Well, my parents have abided by this virtue and it’s a quality that has aided them 47 years later. When you learn to be patient, you learn to be more open-minded and forgiving. And while they didn’t mention forgiveness, I know for a fact that it goes hand-in-hand with patience.
5. Prayer. Not only do my parents pray for each other on a daily basis. But they have set aside a specific day to pray for each of their children and our families. So every Saturday, I get a text message from my mom reminding me that it is my family’s day of prayer, and reminding us to pray for them as well. A family that prays together, stays together.
6. Heaven. You’ve probably heard the saying that you should always start with “the end goal in mind”. Well, the goal for my parents from day one, has always been to get each other to Heaven. They say that “when you focus on that, you can learn to tolerate other things. We keep our focus on the end goal because this world is only temporary”.
BMWK: Please take a minute to wish my parents a happy 47th wedding anniversary. And then let us know in the comments what things have sustained you in your own marriage?