Fifty Years

Bob & Marleen first trip to NY as married couple
A lot can happen in fifty years. We put a man on the moon. The Vietnam war ended; badly. Personal computers, the internet, smart phones and electric cars came into our lives. A vacant lot now boasts a home and mature trees. Children grow up and have children who grow up. And two people who had no clue in 1966 have grown and changed and tested love and by the Grace of God are still in love; still married.

The joys of a first apartment, a first house, a first new car pale compared to the ecstasy over a first child, and the second one. Working and sweating together on the house or the garden. PTA and Girl Scout meetings, family trips, graduations and weddings; all the joys experienced together.

The pain when loved ones died, the anxiety of childhood illnesses, the loss of old friends. The fears and anxious nights when a car crash ends in flight for life, when a heart attack comes, when cancer strikes, when jobs are lost, when the money gets tight.

But Grace, always Grace, over and around and in all the joy and pain. Sustaining Grace, redeeming Grace that keeps two flawed people true to their vows.

I’m looking across the living room right now at my wife. Fresh from bible study this morning, she’ll probably work on the quilt she’s making for our grandson this afternoon. Later, she will prepare a supper, and we will talk about the day, read the bible a little and settle down for a do-nothing evening.

We are not the same as we were. We have a clue now. Vows mean something. Nothing works very well without God. Love grows from sparks and excitement to a well-settled fire that gives warmth and comfort. Love is strong. God is stronger. Happy Anniversary indeed!

2 thoughts on “Fifty Years”

  2. I love this and your writing. You are an inspiration Robert 🙂 I will say it again.

    I am not quite sure why I chose today to actually read your blog. I would love to catch up on every one you’ve written since this first one listed, but today it’s not going to happen.

    I am struggling to maintain some regularity in my life. It has gotten so much tougher since my sister fell in. But consistently reading peoples’ work that I admire – like yours – to consistently purging to keep my home and my brain uncluttered, I am cracking the whip on myself. I will need to make a list entitled START OF DAY like I have at my new part-time job, because life is more nuts than usual lately. I have been consistent with posting my Daily Audio Bible readings first thing in the morning except when it’s really early when I have to leave the house. I still haven’t decided to blog those posts every day. For now, God nudged me to share those readings on FB, and I am committed and consistent. Pretty sure He has me in training on how to be consistent at this point in time!

    The email connected to my WordPress account is ignored for weeks and weeks at a time, otherwise I would be much better at reading you, Mitch, and the others I follow on WP.

    Know that you are appreciated. And – I told you this already – your book inspired me to just write my story simple and straightforward, in the first person, without embellishing. I feel that’s how you wrote yours, and I loved reading it.

    I’m praying for the words God needs me to write in a way that may bring others to the jumping off place, the brink of wanting to know Christ.

    So, this year, 2024, happy 57th anniversary Mr and Mrs Frolich. Well-done, good and faithful servants.

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