50 Years of Bliss

Quiz show scandals devastated the television industry! Explorer I, the first U.S. satellite, sailed into orbit. In south America, Vice President Richard Nixon faced hostile anti-American mobs. And, Rock Star Jerry Lee Lewis married his 13-year-old cousin, Myra Brown.

It was 1958 and there were only about 2 divorces per 1,000 couples. Today, the divorce rate is a staggering 50 percent and Mr. Jerry Lee Lewis, himself, has been divorced at least six times. According to divorcemag.com, only 52 percent of marriages will see their 15^th anniversary. The numbers decrease dramatically as only a third will continue another 10 years to celebrate their 25th. Twenty percent will last 35 years while only five percent make it to 50.

While it's becoming more uncommon to find golden-anniversary couples, a local church in Troy, Michigan recently honored several couples who celebrated 50 years of marriage. The celebration included having each of the couples address the congregation and discuss their strategies for success.

One of the wives appreciated how her husband was so understanding and forgiving when she dented the fenders of their Volkswagen. Of course, after he repaired the fenders, she also valued her husband's mechanical ability.

Dave Nash and wife Louis practice a biblical principle that teaches us to never let the sun go down upon our anger. They also emphasize how important it is to express appreciation for one another.

Playing on the fact that they both enjoy hunting, Bill Goodwin, Jane's husband, joked that he had good motivation to keep his act straight because "Jane is a better shot than me", he said. On a more serious note, though, Bill explained "Not only do I love her, but I 'prefer' her over me". He said although they've had some differences over the years, they never raised their voices in anger. Each fulfills the needs of the other by continually placing the other before self.

Couples who stay together for so long enter the relationship knowing it takes hard work to keep it together. The most important thing these couples share is their faith. They believe in the Word of God and do their best to comply when it says "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it". Christian wives understand there is no "inequality" intended when the Bible says "...submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord". The husband sets the example when he submits to Christ.