53 Years Together

My wife Dulce and I recently attended a wine-and-cheese event for couples who had supported the LOVESTRONG Marriage Ministry with generous donations. We are pleased to say that the ministry started at Holy Spirit Catholic Church here in San Antonio, but it has now grown to double-digit parishes across the state of Texas.

God is good!

At some point during the event, my wife and I sat next to a familiar couple. One thing I noticed from the very beginning of our conversation with them was the affection they had for each other.

I could sense this strong bond between them even though they were not even holding hands. It was so obvious with the eye contact they made with each other and the level of respect between them.

There was magic here … true love!

53 Years Together

I knew they had been married for many years, but I had no idea it was 53!

I sheepishly said, “I suppose Dulce and I are about halfway there with our mere 27 years!”

I asked Sandy to share how they met, and she described her move from a small Southern Texas town to the big city of San Antonio to attend a university. Arthur, on the other hand, was from here in the Alamo City.

Eventually, their paths crossed when they were both teaching school, and after a few years of dating, they decided to tie the knot.

Now … 53 years later, they are still together.

Reflecting on the Past

Inquisitively, I decided to learn more about them, and here are some things I heard …

Sandy: “We had two very energetic twin boys. I remember they were so active that they jumped out of their cribs!”

Arthur: “I attended Central Catholic in the early 1970s. As you know, the school is downtown, and we lived about 3 miles from there, so when my dad could not take me to school, I rode the bus. I even remember missing the bus on many occasions, so I just walked home. It was okay. Not a big deal!”

Sandy: “I was a small-town girl, so San Antonio was way bigger than where I was raised. Arthur was traveling a lot for work. I remember the kids keeping me so busy.”

Arthur: “We enjoy going to the 8 am Holy Spirit Mass because we go shopping right afterwards to places like Sam’s Club, Costco, and the grocery store. We then have time for each other and the rest of the family.”

Sandy also mentioned how much they love spending time with their two grandkids.

There it is!

On the way home from the event, I observed something that is becoming crystal clear to me.

That is, at no time did Sandy and Arthur mention any material items when discussing their past. They did not share anything about a big home, expensive watches, or luxury cars.

They talked very little about work, other than how it created a few challenges in their marriage.?

Instead, they focused on the simplicity of life: love, family, and faith.

I know the Lord brought my wife and I with a strong purpose to the LOVESTRONG Marriage Ministry.

We have this wonderful opportunity to learn from couples who have been through the struggles.

Yet, they put God first, and the rest seems to take care of itself.

See you next week, my friends!

Homework Inquiry

During the next week, here’s your homework inquiry: How will you show your love to your partner?