The Big Day

Today, our son is getting married.  In two weeks, my parents will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary.  Here are Karen and me, nearly halfway in between.  I am amazed at my parents.  They seem to make it look so easy.  But if you peer a little closer, it was anything but easy.  My father began being a parent with little from his own father to go on.  My mother moved around so much growing up that she had lived in more than one house per year before tying the knot.  She says it made her good at making friends, but perhaps guarded in getting close.  Strangely, my parents are not the only ones from that day who were apparently made for one another, with five other couples from Silver Bay who were married in 1965.

For those of us in the middle, it’s like climbing Black Mountain on a clear summer’s day, with a perfect view up and down Lake George.  You can almost see from Fort William Henry to Fort Ti.  So much history on this beautiful lake.  If you’ll pardon me for geeking out for a moment, one of our ancestors, Solomon Mack, fought in one of the largest battles in North American history at Fort Ti in 1758.  Generations of Ingreys, Ellises, McKenneys and McFeelys.  Illness, addiction, job changes, moves, and even moving on to the next life.  Watching children grow up.  Watching parents grow old.  Challenges and pain.  Joys and triumphs.  

Life.  

I am so grateful for my parents.  For the love they showered on my brother, my sister and me.  For the example they set that I try to follow, most of the time.  I truly have been blessed beyond anything I have a right to expect.  

I am so grateful that Owen and Abbey have found one another.  They spent (something like) three years as best friends before “dating”.  Waterskiing, snow skiing, guitar, mountain climbing, church and Bible Study, games and family and friends.  My heart is overflowing just to think of them together.  I love watching how they care for one another, look at one another, hold hands with one another.  

Karen and I will celebrate 28 years together in a couple of months.  I hope we have learned enough from our parents on patience and communication and laughter and love.  And I pray we have provided a good example to our children.

I like the picture that being a Christian, being a follower of the Way, is like getting married.  You have your wedding day.  And then you (should) spend the rest of your life daily growing closer and closer, getting up each day and thinking, “I am so blessed to know you.  What can I do for you today?”