"34"

There are over 7,000,000 references to the number “34” on the internet. There are also over 3,000,000 references to “Sept. 5^th” on the web. That’s a lot of information on those two items: 34 and Sept. 5^th. However, it is the combination of the two of that interests me. Barbara and I celebrate our 34^th anniversary today, Sept. 5^th, 2007. 34 years, and the Lord has blessed us to still be more in love than ever.

“Do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases." (Song Of Solomon 2:7).

Over thirty years ago, love was awakened in us. We have continued to stir it up and it continues to please. We were new and love was new and fresh. That was the beginning. It was good. Because we were so different, there were those who thought we would not last. Who knows? Maybe in another 30 years or so, they may be right. But, right now, as the old song says, Our Love Is Here To Stay!!! Yes, love was new and fresh back then. It was unproven and untested. The years have passed and with time, our love has matured and become well seasoned. It has stood and withstood the test of time. New and fresh is good. Mature and seasoned is better…When it comes to love.

“I am my Beloved’s and my beloved is mine.”(S.O.S. 6:3). “The Daughters saw her and called her blessed.”(S.O.S. 6:9).

God gave us to each other. I am hers and she is mine. It is a simple understanding of that fact that causes love to continue to grow. Again, I think of the line in the old song, You’re mine and we belong together. I have always wanted my wife to feel special because of the love that I have for her. I want her to know and be confident in the fact that I am hers and hers alone. I want her to feel that ours is a love worth having. I want others to look at us and call her blessed because of our love. I want other couples to be inspired to love each other more because of the deep love that they see in us. The first time I saw her, I looked at her through eyes of infatuation. It was the college girl I was fascinated with. Now, I look at the woman through eyes of an ever deepening love. When others see me looking at her, I want them to see the look of love for her in my eyes and call her blessed.

“Set me as a seal upon your heart…”(S.O.S. 8:6).

My love covers her heart and her love covers mine. It is a seal that has protected our relationship all of these years. My heart is a place where only she belongs. She’s in me, I am in her and we are sealed by love in each others hearts. With the dawn of each new day comes a new opportunity for love to grow. So, our love is both new and old. In its newness, it is continually seeking, exploring, discovering, growing, building. New love is exciting. Old love has grown deep and is established on a solid foundation. It is comfortable, reliable, forgiving, understanding. Old love is the “just the two of us” kind of love. Old love gives life and assurance to new love. Old love is exciting.

“I am my Beloved’s and my desire is toward her.”(A paraphrase of S.O.S. 7:10). “…rejoice with the wife of your youth. …Let her breasts satisfy you at all times and be ravished always with her love.”(Prov. 5:18-19).

After all of these years, she still fascinates me. She still infatuates me. She still inspires a hunger in me that only she can satisfy. She is the wife of my youth. Now, she is the love of my life. I rejoice in the very thought of her. After all these years, hers are still the only lips that I want to kiss. Hers is the only body that fits in my embrace. Is she my friend? Yes she is. But, I have other friends. She, however, is my one and only Lover. My desire is truly toward my Beloved. I do rejoice in her, because of her and with her. Her breasts and all that goes with them do satisfy me at all times and I am and forever will be ravished with her love. I am my Beloved’s and my desire is toward her.

There are so many things that I could say about our marriage. But, it’s really all very simple. Everything that I could say comes down to this:

Barbara, after 34 years of marriage, after all these years, I do love you…STILL.