Tools not Towels

Murray and I celebrated our 38^th wedding anniversary this week. I’m pretty sure anyway. For a year, Murray’s been saying we were in our 38^th year of marriage.

 

He says, “When you first get married, you can say you’re in your first year of marriage, right?”

 

So now, he’ll start saying we’re in our 39^th year, and I’ll just get confused again.

 

When we got married, we got lots of gifts. Especially towels. Lots and lots of towels. Murray started saying, “I’m going to tell people that for wedding gifts, they should give tools not towels.”

 

I guess we didn’t think we’d ever have to buy towels again. I’m not sure we have. Lately, I’ve started noticing holes in our towels, so I think we’re going to have to buy some for ourselves after all.

 

So, tools, not towels. What other gifts have I received in our 38 years of marriage?

 

Murray puts up with me. He often does things for me, which I had planned to do differently. I’m not very grateful.

 

Even in our 39^th year, he still calls me, “My lady love” and says I’m the love of his life.

 

I don’t seem to be able to stop myself—he still makes me laugh every day.

 

He does so much for all of us. I don’t thank him near enough.

 

He’s an enthusiastic cook, and baker. Yum yum.

 

When I’m sad and worried, he’s kind to me. There’s no one else I’d rather talk to.

 

What gifts has he given me over the years?

 

He trusted me to be a stay-at-home mom with our five kids. He’s always been my strongest supporter, having faith that I can do much more than I feel sure of with my disabilities.

 

When I was in the hospital for six weeks, he spent every day with me.

 

On the day my first book was published, he woke me that night with wonder in his voice. “Kathy, your book is on line.”

 

I don’t know how many more years God will give us together, but I know they’ll be full of gifts. Lord,             thank you for the gift of my sweet husband.