This week, I have been in Iowa visiting my wife's extended family. The main purpose for the trip up here is to celebrate Abby's grandparent's 74th wedding anniversary along with her grandpa's 94th birthday. During some free time this week, I pondered what an incredible and nearly unbelievable accomplishment it is to have been married for such a long time...literally, being married an entire lifetime. As a result of this accomplishment, I would like to dedicate this entry to Floyd and Beatrice Bridges as a way to celebrate their lifetime together and the legacy of love they have demonstrated to friends and family alike!
Grandpa was born July 21, 1915 and Grandma was born April 16, 1920. Their lives were joined together in Holy Matrimony on July 20, 1935. Through the past 74 years, they have lived through many things together. No doubt, they have faced many challenges, and they've had their fair share of difficulties along this amazing journey. However, no matter what circumstances they faced, it is obvious to me that they faced them together and faced them with an unending and unconditional love for each other and for God. It came as no surprise to me that when I asked Abby's Grandpa (Emma's Great Grandpa) what his favorite Bible verse was, he came back with two:
- John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life"
- 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"
The reason I wasn't surprised by these two selections, is that he has been married to the same woman for 74 years and in order to accomplish that there has to be 2 things present in the marriage: First, a Love that Gives (John 3:16) and secondly, A Love that Forgives (1 John 1:9).
Over these last 74 years, it is obvious that both Grandma and Grandpa have displayed this Godly love by giving to and forgiving each other and those around them.
I would like to share with you a little of the legacy that is the Bridges family.
Grandpa and Grandma Bridges have: 5 Children (4 boys and 1 girl), 14 Grandchildren (8 girls and 6 boys) and 24 Great Grandchildren (12 girls and 12 boys - ranging in age from 14 months to 22 years old - Emma is 19 months old).
Amazingly, there are over 400 years of marriage in this legacy. I find this particularly astounding, because in our society, families don't exist and last like they once did. The family unit and marriage (which were both designed by God) are both under assault like never before. Being in youth ministry, I see first hand the difficulties families go through. Husbands and wives just can't find it in them to make things work. Many times these struggles lead to decisions to split apart which adversely effects the children involved. Divorce has become so commonplace that the divorce rate is nearly the same in the church as outside the church. This is especially sad, because as believers, we have the Love of God in our lives. We ought to be leading the way in demonstrating God's Love (giving and forgiving) to the world by the way we live and by the love we show those near us - our families. In other words, because God has loved us, given to us and forgiven us, there should not be anything in our life that we can't give or forgive. Remember, God gave His all...and He forgave us ALL our sins! (A love that gives all and forgives all can withstand all!). Therefore, I believe each and every person can learn a lot from Grandma and Grandpa Bridges. The love they share with each other is Love given from God. As a result of their faithfulness to the Lord, their love of God and each other, God has blessed them with a Legacy that will most certainly last for many generations.
What can we learn? I believe Grandpa Bridges summed it up in his verses: We need to have a giving and forgiving love! God first displayed this love and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to marry into this family and see it displayed again by Grandma and Grandpa Bridges!
Congratulations Grandma and Grandpa on a LIFETIME LEGACY of LOVE!
