Today, my parents celebrate fifty years of marriage!  Fifty years of sacrifice, devotion, love, affection and forgiveness for one another and for us.  They have faithfully carried out this incredible legacy of love that began before them and because of God’s unending grace and mercy will carry on past them.

Seventeen year old, Jim was introduced to my Mom at a party in the Fall of 1967.  Lucky man!  Claudette was a stunning dark haired, blue eyed beauty in a mini skirt highlighted by green legged tights.  Those green leggings were the reason my Dad has forever lovingly called her, “frog legs!”

Only months after meeting, my Dad went “all in” and sold his motorcycle to buy Mom’s engagement ring.  He sold his prized stereo so they would have resources for my sister to be born.  And a lifetime of sacrifice for us all continued from there.

I have watched for years Dad spoil my mom.  And although my Dad is a true master at giving a “surprise gift” it’s really not about stuff and things.  He spoils my Mom with his love and sacrifice for her.  He has spoiled his children this way too!

I have watched my Dad faithfully get gas for her car, hold her hand and if ever she burned something for dinner, my Dad’s response has always been,”it’s just the way I like it”.  My Dad loves my Mom, like Christ loves the church.  He gave himself up for her!

One of my favorite authors Bob Goff, writes this,

“That’s what love does – it pursues blindly, unflinchingly, and without end. When you go after something you love, you’ll do anything it takes to get it, even if it costs everything.”

My Mom is “all in” too  After fifty years, Mom still looks at Dad with young eyes of adoration.  It’s such a beautiful thing.  As her adult daughter, I can’t tell you how proud it makes me to witness this devotion.  She loves to do things for him and not because she is “supposed” to.

My Mom is a giver.  She is strong, confident, capable and she taught her children to be the same.  She honors and serves my Dad because she loves him so deeply and because she loves the Lord who gave him to her.  I see my Mom look at my Dad this way and it wrecks my heart…every time.

My parents have endured heartache together, laughed together, struggled together, and loved together.  The kind of love they have is unconditional, real, inspiring, and because of them it’s the kind of love my heart has always desired.  It’s the way I want to love!

I am so incredibly thankful for the legacy of faith, family and love they have lived out before our eyes.

This is sacrifice.  This is love…this is commitment, fifty years in the making!