Today Mom and Dad would’ve celebrated their 46th wedding
anniversary, one week before Valentine’s Day. Mom used to share with me the
story of Dad’s proposal and how she wanted to marry on that quintessential
“romantic” holiday. But Daddy insisted he wanted to be married six months to
the day from the time he proposed. That meant the wedding date would be for one
week earlier on Feb. 7. Thus began years of compromise, sacrifice and teamwork.
Mom and Dad weren’t the perfect couple in the sense that they got mad and
yelled at one another. Often. But at the
end of the day, each one knew how much they were loved by the other.
Through the years I told my
friends that Daddy lived to make Mom happy and he did. While he seldom brought
her bouquets of flowers, he did give her cards with heartfelt messages and he
brought her souvenirs from all of his travels. But far more than that, Daddy faithfully
cared for Mom through fifteen years of serious illnesses and hospitalizations.
Not only did he care for her physical needs, he
showered her with affection and encouragement. Through both good times and bad,
he never failed to pray for her. Mom cared for Daddy in all those same ways.
And it was a running contest between them to see who could make the other one
laugh the most and the loudest. Momma used to say Daddy’s voice was the first
one she wanted to hear in the morning and the last one she heard at night.
After Momma died, I said to Daddy that he always acted as if Momma hung the
moon in the sky. His simple reply? “Well, didn’t she?” I am grateful to my
parents for showing me love can last a lifetime. It can overcome any obstacle.
And it can sustain you when everything else fails.
Beautiful recounting of their love--and she DOES look as if she hung the moon :) Lovely picture!
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