This week my wife, Karen, and I observed and celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary.    I am incredibly blessed to have such a loving and giving and patient spouse!    In some ways these past 30 years have seemed to fly by.   In other respects, when I reflect upon all the experiences and life journeys that Karen and I have experienced together....hey, it adds up to a lot!

One thing I am reminded of as I reflect upon thirty years of marriage.....a strong, lasting relationship (of any sort) takes a lot of time, investment, patience and nurture.   In fact, I Corinthians, chapter 13, often referred to as "The Love Chapter" when describing love begins this way:  "Love is patient; love is kind...."    Whenever I read these characteristics of love, along with the fourteen additional descriptors of true love, I get convicted.    How often in my 30 years of marriage have I not practiced patience!    How many times did I not engage in kindness!    And on and on.    Ah, but then I read (I Corinthians 13:5b) true love "keeps no records of wrong," and I am given renewed enthusiasm and hope for my marital relationship (and any other relationship)!    Forgiveness!   Grace!   Mercy!    When we've received it from our Creator we then can share it with others...and with our significant other!      
I am so grateful that Karen is a grace-filled person...she would have to be to be married to me!     I am thankful that she does not keep a record of my wrongs done against her.   And, I also want to reciprocate and  practice that same grace toward her.     Yes, a lot of patience....a big dose of kindness and a ton of forgiveness....From God and from one another......has enabled us to reach thirty years together and counting!    It is a gift.   This relationship I count as a treasure.    And to Karen is awarded The Purple Heart Award for sticking it out...lo these thirty years.   Of course, she has no choice.   I have told her on more than one occasion, "Karen, if you ever leave me...I'm going with you!