“Dearest Cody,

 

            I have watched you grow with great pride.  Your love for the Lord, even as a child brings happy tears to me.  You had to be only 7 or 8 when I asked, “Cody, what would you do if you could do anything in the world you wanted to?”  Your answer was prompt, packed with assurance.  You said, “Go to heaven.”  Amazed by that answer, I asked another question, “What would you do to solve the world’s problems?”  You simply said, “Pray!” 

            What wisdom for one so young.  It seems that only happened yesterday.  How like Jesus you are.  You fill a grandmother’s heart with joy.

Soon it will be your wedding day and that reminds me of my first love.   Nothing was more exciting or exhilarating!  After being married these many years to the “man of my dreams,” I have learned the secret of a lasting, loving marriage that I want to share with you:

            Falling in love and staying there just doesn’t happen.  Like a garden, a marriage has to be tended.  Love between a husband and wife must be nurtured with tender care if it is going to blossom and flourish.

            Love is being there for one another.  Love is being in the presence of the most important person in your life.  Love is listening to your spouse, really listening and not thinking about your response.  Love means seeing and hearing with your heart.

            Love is like our relationship with Jesus.  It is sharing and spending time together.  Our love for God and for each other needs to be maintained daily.

            Love just doesn’t happen every day with the person you married.  It must grow and must have communication with one another.  This means uninterrupted time spent

together.

            Love means accepting the responsibility and the willingness to go the second mile.  It means sacrifice, patience and most of all forgiveness.   Love is expressed in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:  “Love is patient and kind.  Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud.  Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others.  Love does not count up wrongs that have been done.  Love is not happy with evil but is happy with the truth.  Love patiently accepts all things.  It always trusts, always hopes, and always remains strong.”  (NCV)

            Love recognizes the emotional needs of each other.  It is “having an affair” with your husband or wife.  It means little things…a phone call during the day, a card taped to the mirror, a candlelight dinner for two, a surprise rose.  Love is whispering in his or her ear, “When I’m away from you, you are all I think about!”

            Love is a life long commitment between a husband and wife.  It is a story of a relationship with a person who overlooks offenses.  It is a pledge to be always there for one another.  Love supports, defends, protects and honors.

            Love is spiritual.  It comes straight from the heart of God.  Couples who include God as the third partner in the marriage are blessed indeed.

            God is honored when a husband and wife love each other.  What better gift to give to each other and to God…a lifetime commitment of love.  Children are blessed whose father’s love for his children’s mother is deep and immoveable.

            As you become one with your beautiful bride may you both remember: “The LORD is my strength and shield, I trust him, and he helps me.  I am very happy and I praise him with my song” Psalm 28:7 NCV).

            May God hold you close always.  May your children and your children’s children

grow in grace, knowledge and peace in the Lord.

            My love for you will never end.

            Mawmaw”