My Friend, Years From Now

I  awoke early that morning.
A content, exciting feeling washing over me.

I was marrying my friend.

It was a good thing too.
Our journey would take us through many hills and valleys.
Uncharted territory.
Christ as our compass.
Joined together.
Friends.

Just a month before he had proposed in a horse barn at the Tunbridge Fair.

He asked if I would spend a life time being friends?

We would taste bitterness and disappointment.
Child birth and child death.
‘Til death do you part passed beneath our doors.
For richer has not knocked too often. . .  poorer has been a constant companion.

Yet. . . still we journeyed.
Sometimes hand in hand.
Sometimes in the dark wondering how we would survive.

Today we will celebrate 25 years since we said “I do.”

A year ago we lost the barn where we held our reception. 

So many changes through these years.
One thing that has remained is our love for God.
No matter how things have been shaken up around us,
(and I’m telling you things have been shaken up. Plus I can’t stand me sometimes for very long. . . I can’t imagine being married to me!)
we keep coming back to common ground.

We’re both incredibly stubborn.
I talk too much, him; not enough.
Years together have dulled my filter (age might have something to do with that too) and my tongue is often sharp.

I tire easily and grief causes me to withdraw.

We’ve let our marriage fall to the side lines.
Dates are far and few between.
Time alone: rare.

We’re hoping to change that.
I might have to stay awake beyond 8:00 pm.
I might also have to go out when it’s dark.
I’m willing to try.
I miss my friend.
I miss our talks and his wisdom.
I miss the easy way we used to have.
Neither of us are the same person we were 25 years ago.
We still serve the same God.
The same God that drew us together.
This same God will lead us in these new chapters.

We’re glad He’s writing the story. 

My dear farmer, thank you for loving me.
Thank you for never giving up on us.

Most of all, thank you for always loving God first.

My farmer and the Road Crew sang this to me at our wedding.

Don Williams,
Years From Now
Years from now, I’ll want you years from now
I’ll hold you years from now as I hold you tonight
You are my one true friend always my one true friend
And I’ll love you till life’s end, as I love you tonight