February 13, 2012

• Sweeter Than Chocolate

  The signs of love are in the air.  People are wearing red shirts and buying boxes of chocolate.  Reservations for romantic dinners are hard to come by and the cards are flying off the shelves everywhere cards are sold.  The price of flowers seems higher than at other times of the year and x's and o's are peeping out of store windows.  I love chocolate and red shirts and romantic dinners and flowers and cards, but there is something else that shouts love in the loudest and most emphatic way.

  I'm talking about long-lasting marriages that are founded on the principles of God's word and based in love.  I have been so blessed to have special people in my life who believed that marriage is for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health as long as both shall live.  I'm talking about my grandparents and Dean's grandparents.  Eight special people who have played a major part in our lives and who deserve to be honored on this day of love.

  

  My Grandpa Skiles had written on the back of this picture, "rejoice with the wife of thine youth."  He and Grandma celebrated 66 years of marriage before they were separated by death.  I had the privilege of caring for grandpa for a few weeks before he died and during that time he told me how he had spent $300 and took a trip from Indiana to California where he met grandma.  He told me that she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.  He won her heart and when he returned to Indiana, she grew heartsick before he returned to take her home as his bride in 1926.

   

  My Grandpa and Grandma Kintner were married in 1929.  Grandpa loved to say that he had $10 when they got married - just enough to buy a marriage license.  They worked hard together on their farm and shared in the joy of raising their children and in the sorrow of losing both of their sons.  The last time I was with my grandparents before death separated them I was tickled to see grandpa shuffle over to where grandma was sitting so he could give her a pat on the back.  I was afraid that he would loose his balance on his way, but that little sign of endearment is a special memory.  Their love lasted through the good and the bad for 63 years.

  

  Dean's Grandpa and Grandma Shaffer also saw their share of the good and the bad throughout the 56 years that the Lord blessed them with.  They endured long separations during WWII when grandpa was off at camp and grandma was home with their first baby.  Grandpa worked hard to provide for his family and had interesting stories to tell about his work in a little family run coal mine.  I always knew Grandpa and Grandma as a couple who enjoyed life and could find humor in many situations.  As Grandma's health failed, Grandpa lovingly cared for her without complaint.

  

  Dean's Grandpa and Grandma Johns married young and loved each other for 62 years.  Grandpa was a long-distance trucker and it seemed that his absence made the heart grow fonder.   Family times have always been important in the Johns' family and Grandpa and Grandma's house has always been open for family occasions - both planned and unplanned.  We could always count on a warm welcome and Grandpa always made sure that the thermostat was part of the welcoming committee.  We never said good-bye without an invitation to return as often and soon as possible.  Grandpa, as the only surviving grandparent out of eight, is still extending the invitation to visit.

      

  Dean and I will soon celebrate 18 years together and it doesn't seem long compared to the 247 years of marriage that our grandparents enjoyed.  We were older than any of our grandparents when we got married, but that doesn't stop us from aiming for as many years as possible.  With their record, 50 almost sounds like a low goal.  By God's grace and mercy, we'll enjoy at least that many.  The love that we have seen demonstrated is a special gift that we'll enjoy for many years and it lasted much longer than that chocolate that we're going to share.

   

  • 9:17 pm
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