Dateline: February 5, 1992, in Atchison, KS
Him: You want to go out some time?
Her: Um…can I get back to you on that?
And so began a relationship that today (August 21), officially celebrates the 25th anniversary of a wedding between that guy and that girl…
While the relationship began as any relationship does, the remainder of the story is anything but ordinary. You see, the young man and the young woman put the cart before the proverbial horse. Their first child was born on November 18, 1992, some 10 months before they were actually married. Of course, most relationships like this one eventually crash and burn under the emotional weight of such an event. But not this one.
The boy and the girl were both raised by strong, loving families. In fact, both sets of parents (grandparents) are still married today, 48+ years after their own weddings. Additionally, both played a HUGE role in supporting the couple and their young son in those early months and years.
Nonetheless, there were always challenges. Many people may have foreseen the challenges; the couple (at least the husband) did not. The Catholic priest that counseled and led the couple in marriage preparation warned the young lady, “If you don’t step up and become more forceful, [this guy] is going to run you over.”
You see, the young man was (is) a strong-willed, type A personality. Driven and determined, the guy had (has) the audacity to set his mind to some thing or some outcome, proceeding to pursue it regardless of the obstacles in his way. Needless to say, over time (and rather quickly), the young lady did develop and voice her own strong will, taming (or helping guide) the young man toward more, shall we say, tempered approaches to many of his goals.
In fact, if you talk to the not-so-young man today, he will tell you that his bride most likely saved his life and was the answer to his prayers. From a young age, this man had always prayed to live a life and to have a marriage/family like the one his own parents had. Emulating his parents meant being married at age 22 with young family. Who says God doesn’t answer one’s prayers?
In this case, though, the Lord gave the young man more than he asked for. Little did he know back then that he was marrying a saint. Today, at the age of 47, the man would shake his head at his younger self and the way he treated his beautiful, young bride, particularly when they were living away from home in Minneapolis-St. Paul (the first time). While the saint cared for two toddlers (one with learning disabilities), this husband seemed more concerned with his career than his home life.
Of course, his angelic wife endured it all and if she prayed for her husband during those long nights, those prayers were finally answered years later. Over time, the man began to fully understand the true meaning of the covenant of marriage. After all, the two shall become one and what God joins, no man shall put asunder…
There is much more to the story than can be summarized here in a short blog. Suffice it to say that the man now realizes that his path to heaven lies squarely on the shoulders of his loving bride. He also realizes that the union between a man and a woman is a sacred one. So, while he regrets his actions from 26 years ago, it’s only in the context of the fact that he should have begun honoring his future bride and the sanctity of that sacred union from the very beginning. Of course, he is quite happy (an understatement) that the Lord has blessed him with such a beautiful, funny, loving, caring, and honorable woman to be his partner on this Earthly pilgrimage.
There will never be enough words spoken or written to explain how indebted this man is to his wife of 25 years. But he will try to keep it simple:
Thank you, Rhonda Bower. Thank you for a wonderful home and an awesome family. Thank you for making my dreams come true. I love you with all my heart and all my soul.
And here’s to the next 25 years!! I will try my best to make the second half of our lives together hundreds of times better than the first half (which has been pretty damn good, thanks to you)!
PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!