Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
Dear Kim,
I wish I had the right words to express how I truly feel in my heart after 30 years in God’s holy covenant of marriage with you. Some years were easy. Others were hard. We both know that I am not easy to live with. But I count every year with you as the greatest gift God has given me after salvation.
God blessed us with four incredible children: Brock, Jenna, Katie, and Tank. We have seen His powerful hand working miracles in each one of their lives. God has multiplied that blessing with Brock’s fiancé, Meg, and Katie’s boyfriend, Brandon, both bringing their own special blessings into our family that has absolutely rocked my world. What an incredible privilege of being dad to all of them! This past Christmas, game night was filled with the joy and laughter of the Lord unlike anything I have ever experienced. My heart overflowed with praise to God and thanksgiving to you as the greatest mother in the world.
God has given us the grace to always team up together and never give up, and for that I am eternally grateful. You have been my best friend and my one true love in this life. I know that there have been too many times throughout our marriage when I have not demonstrated the patient, kind, selfless love that God calls us to, and for that I am truly sorry. I don’t know how many more anniversaries God will give us, but I do know this: For whatever time is left, I vow once again, as I did 30 years ago today, to love you with all my heart — for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, for as long as we both shall live. To God be the glory for the incredible gift of being your husband!
I love you, Kim. As we celebrate this special day, I want to offer up the following prayer to the One who has kept us faithful to Him and to each other throughout all these years together.
Gracious Jesus,
Thank you for your love, mercy, and grace that has been sanctifying our marriage for the past 30 years. Without you sitting on the throne of our lives and always getting the last word, we would have ended up as another sad statistic. In those moments when we thought we had reached rock bottom, it was you who reminded us that you are the Rock we were standing on. I pray that you strengthen the bonds of our love for you and for each other in order to accomplish your purpose for marriage: to put the Gospel on display and to point others — especially our children — to you. As you laid down your life for us, help me to lay down my life for Kim — and in so doing, lift her up to your throne of grace as the cherished wife she is, bringing all honor, glory, and praise to your great name. Amen.
Grace for the Race 