We have just got home after the most exhilarating and wonderful trip to the Seychelles where we celebrated our Ruby Wedding Anniversary on the 9th September (40 years of marriage). It was a triple celebration really. One was of our relationship which feels more satisfying and fulfilling than it ever has. We love each other more with every passing day. Two was of the miracle that I am well enough to be able to make this kind of trip after 15 years of incredible pain and illness. Thank God for His mercy and for your prayers too! Three was the joy of seeing the believers in the Seychelles again after 23 years since we left them. The growth and maturity that has come to the churches since we served there as missionaries in the 1980's is remarkable and it was a great joy to renew fellowship with the folk there.
On the day itself we went off to church in the morning and when we returned to our hotel room we found that the maids had covered our room with flowers, even decorating the bathroom! They had created beautiful arrangements of hibiscus and lemon grass to wish us a happy anniversary and provided us with a lovely celebratory cake.
Every part of that day was special to us both and we feel so privileged to have been able to share it together. Marriage is so much more than a wedding - even than a ruby wedding! It is about learning to give your all to someone you love in the knowledge that they give their all to you. As I often tell young couples preparing to wed - marriage is not give and take - it is all give! You give your all and they give theirs and then both your needs are met! That has been our experience through four decades and we are looking forward to the future that God has planned for us.
