If the Good Lord is willing and Isaac will just settle down and not hurt Mexico Beach too much, Donna Sue and I will be there this weekend for a very special time. It happens every year that we try to take some days off around this time to celebrate what is a very special day for us.

I am already preparing for the goodness of the day. I am thinking about the good food and drink, the atmosphere, the decorations, the excitement. It will definitely be a very special time for Donna Sue and me as this Saturday rolls around and the college football season finally begins. Just kidding!

Actually, that is a good day, but the real excitement this weekend will come on Sunday as Donna Sue and I celebrate our wedding anniversary. I used to have trouble remembering the specific date. I could never get it straight as to whether it was the second or the third. I had the month down, but the specific date was confusing. I’ve overcome that, thank the Lord.

A few of my high school friends, a very few, are approaching their 50th anniversaries. I graduated high school in 1967 so some of our girls and guys got married soon after that. An anniversary with the number of years in the mid-forties is not unusual for a few. We are not close to that. For Donna Sue and me, that Golden Date will occur when I am past 100 years of age. So will she be and I hope we get there.

That reminds me of a joke. A couple was celebrating their 50th anniversary. The husband asked his wife, “Honey, what would you like to do on our anniversary?”

She said, “Let’s run upstairs and make love.”

He replies, “Make up your mind. We can’t do both.”

When I think of the blessings in my life, I go on and on. I am thankful to have been born in the United States of America to great and loving parents. It’s not just the USA that I am thankful for; it’s also being born in the South and during a time when security and good times were real easy and a whole lot cheaper.

I could not go through all the blessings of my life, though, without acknowledging the wonderful woman God gave to me. I remember praying for her. It went something like this.

“God, I am not trying to bargain with you. I am Yours no matter what comes my way. At the same time, I would like a partner who would walk with me, love me and love You just as much as I love You. And if it’s not asking too much, I would like her to love other people just as much as I do.” With Donna Sue, I might say that God hit the nail on the head.
At that time in my life, I had lived as a single man for over ten years. One might say I was pretty “sot” in my ways. Here is another joke of which I am reminded.

At his 25th anniversary, Tom was asked to give everyone an accounting of the benefits of such a long marriage. “What have you learned from all those wonderful years of living with Susan?”

Tom was quick. “I’ve learned that marriage is the best teacher of all. It teaches you loyalty, patience, meekness, self-restraint, forgiveness and many other lessons that I would not have needed if I had remained single.”

When I asked for that almost impossible package of goodness in a partner, quite frankly, I would have settled for fifty percent. God gave me all I asked and even more. I don’t know what she asked for, but I can’t help but think that she got the short end of the stick.

The Bible speaks of the worth of a wife of noble character. Most of you have heard or read this description. It can be found in Proverbs 31st chapter.

“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.” I am living that truth even as I write.

There are many good things that coincided with my marriage to Donna Sue. I will mention merely two. I could not begin to tell them all.

First, there was the move to Bainbridge. When we married, she was appointed as the Associate Pastor here in this town. I was appointed to shepherd two churches, one of which is the Decatur County church of Sutton Chapel.

Living here with Donna Sue, establishing a home and house that is very comfortable, working in a place that has brought great joy, making a whole new bunch of wonderful friends have made this portion of my life the best that I have had so far. We are not finished. The best is yet to come.

And then, there is the son she brought with her. With Donna Sue came Little Bit, the one some call “dog,” but we call son. It’s not every day that one gets two for the price of one! All three of us have moved on down the road of life a dozen years, now. There are a few more aches and pains, but when all is said and done, it’s been a great trip. Happy Anniversary, Donna Sue!