Sunday, March 08, 2009

Bliss

Jaime and Drew are celebrating a dozen years of marriage today. It's time to reflect. Twelve years, three children, 2 dogs, dozens of deployments, and 8 moves later, they are still happily married. Not to say that every day of those twelve years were happy, because they weren't. There have been big disappointments, problems, stresses, and heartbreaks. This last year has been the hardest one yet, and we are still mopping up the tears.

So what makes Jaime and Drew happily married? What makes any of us happily married when we are all just fragile people in a troubled world where crisis lurks around the next corner? Is it because they are so similar? No, they couldn't be more different. Is it because they are so intelligent? No, with apologies, they are not all THAT smart. Is it because they are so rich? No, they have piles of bills.

It's something else: faith, hope, courage, commitment, forgiveness, compassion. They trust that God sees them and hears their cries for help--faith; they know the promises of blessing if they trust--hope; they pull up their boots and march forward--courage; they stick it out even when it feels terrible--commitment; they release the offenses--forgiveness; they understand each other's hurts --compassion.

Jaime and Drew have all these traits and more. They also laugh together a lot, and gripe about the same things; they quote movie lines to each other; they exercise together; they fix up their home together; they dance together; and they love the same people--their children, their friends, their families. And they do these things over and over again. And the rule is, if you do these kinds of things over and over again, you get happy. That's what marital bliss is made of, and nothing more.

And that, my friends, is how it's done! Drum roll please: Let's hear it for Jaime and Drew and 12 years of bliss!

11 comments:

vi said...

Drew and Merz - Congrats! on this special day. It is fun to watch you two as you grow in your marriage. We love you lots!

Love UD and Auntie Viv

Jaimers said...

Wow, I am a little surprised that you wrote all of this about us... it made me really appreciate and see how hard we have worked to stay married and make it a loving relationship. Thanks for giving your many years of relational insight and marriage counseling...we learned alot of it from watching you and Dad!
Looking forward to being reunited with Drew on Friday after a month apart..I can't believe I used to do months and months of deployments, I can barely handle a month now. Thanks for loving us and praying for us!

Jeri said...

Beautifully written for a wonderful couple. So blessed to have enjoyed a year of getting to know Drew & Jaime. Congratulations!

Mackenzie said...

Happy Anniversary Jaime & Drew!! And what a beautiful post, Karen...SO TRUE. I will hang on these words as I journey in my own marriage to Jim...we will be celebrating 5 years this July (!) I truly hope that our path crosses with your family's this year because you all have been such a joy and a blessing to us.

all my love,
Kenz

Liza on Maui said...

ppy Anniversary Drew and Jaime! Wow, a dozen years of togetherness :) and a wonderful post to honor these years.

Unknown said...

Congrats guys!

Van Down By The River said...

I love it... well written, with beautiful insight. Congrats to one of my favorite married couples out there! (and no, it's not just because both of you are ridiculously goodlookin)

bAiLeY(: said...

Happy Anniversery Mommy & Daddy!! I love you guys!!!

Amy said...

Yay, Jaime and Drew! You guys are an inspiration. Love you both =) Amy

Bob and Deanne Rhoads said...

Jaime and Drew- congrats on #12. Can it be that many years already!? Many blessings for the road ahead for you and your cute little fam. Love you all,
Bob and Deanne

Anonymous said...

That's a great lesson, Karen. Our children learn a lot from watching us. We learn a lot from watching our children.

Bill and Lu