35 And Counting by Deena McDaniel Positively Beautiful Blog

  35 And Counting by Deena McDaniel Positively Beautiful Blog

 

 


 

 

Selfish and self-centered actions become a lifetime of revelations. It seemed like the right thing to do that morning 35 years ago on December 30th. My grandmother was going in for colon surgery and she was expected to be fine even though she was 85 years old. There was no need for me to sit next to my mom in the waiting room. All was going to be fine. So, we eloped.

 

 

 

Two become one. Genesis 2:24-“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” I’d no idea the extent of challenges that being married was going to produce. Yes, the idea of being with this man, Mickey, was kinda fun to think about. "For the rest of my life", was not an idea connecting in my 23-year-old brain. I’d seen both my sisters go through the rigmarole of weddings and it looked like a lot of work and money for one day. Both Mickey and I decided that the money we’d spend on a wedding was going to be poured into buying a house. It made sense. We were in love! We built a house, God was building a marriage.

 

 

 

 

Off to Lavern’s Wedding Chapel, where our friends told us we could find a one-day quick church wedding. If you’ve not heard the long version, let’s say I forgot my driver’s license and bought a fishing license to provide proof of age so I could get married on that cold wintery day in Miami, Oklahoma.  We’d splurged at the end for a polaroid at $1.50 and our total wedding with dinner at a Cajun restaurant (only because that was at the highway exit) was $60. Yeehaw! His parents rejoiced; my parents cried.

 

 

 

 

 

Marriage isn’t to be taken lightly. I’ve no idea why I was so selfish in my actions, (love does that) but the elopement has made a wonderful story for many years. I did understand forever. I didn’t understand forsaking your own agenda.

 

 

 

 

 

In 35 years of marriage, I’ve felt the love and death of our relationship and then the love again. We all come with an agenda for a marriage. 1 Corinthians 11:3 – “But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband and the head of Christ is God.”  God’s agenda wins, always. Living with a person for such a long time it’s inevitable that our own personal sins are revealed. The beauty about marriage is we can very quickly notice our own personal flaws, and it’s not because the other person is pointing them out, it’s because the Holy Spirit seems to work overtime!

 

 

 

 

 

I heard a story today about remembering important dates. The man, ignoring the wife when the wife stares at the husband, “Do you know what day it is?” Of course, he does and proceeds throughout the day to adorn her with gifts of flowers, chocolate, and a black nightie. As he arrives at home, she’s ready with candles, dinner, and a sexy outfit. She wraps her arms around him and exclaims, “This is the BEST Groundhog’s Day ever!” Now we all laugh, but one anniversary I did forget and when asked "what day is this" I stated that our horse Albert was getting castrated. Nothing says I love you like gelding your horse. Proverbs 31:10 –“An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

A lifetime of stories in 35 years. A lifetime ahead of stories to make. Our retirement years approach. Our empty nest is culminating on March 13, 2022. March 12 is our daughter Rosey is officially a “Collins.” She begins a new life with Desmond. I’ll begin a new phase with Mickey. “National Naked Grandpa Day,” Mickey exclaims, “March 13 will catch on.” This day will be the first day in over 32 years we’ll be kid-free in our house. It’s a day some count down to, rather than dread. Slowly the Lord is preparing my heart to explore the hidden stories yet to be lived.   Strange things happen when we yield to His will and His way. Strange and wonderful unknown beckons us. Just as we make a plan, God seems to laugh and change it. We’re still making plans.  Not sure that Big Foot Museum idea will come to fruition, but Mickey always was an ideas man.  

 

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