There's You on New Year's Eve

New Year’s Eve has always been more than a night for parties, watching Times Square on TV, or singing “Auld Lang Syne.” The revelry associated with the night has always been secondary to me because it’s been our parent’s wedding anniversary for 59 years. They each grew up about 100 miles from Dallas, but in opposite directions, and met working at the same store in Midland, Texas. Their homes have been as far west as El Paso, as far north and east as New Jersey, and as far south as San Antonio, having moved four more times in-between. There’s a lot to be gained through moves: learning other ways of doing things, finding out there are nice people all over, and family bonding through the remoteness. Over the past 35 years they’ve been able to grow deep roots by staying in the same community which affords its own benefits: a sense of connection, familiarity, and comfort. They have used almost every vacation day to visit relatives, trying never to stay more than three days in one home and always having more homes wishing to welcome them. They’ve raised three children, delighted eight grandchildren, and embraced five (soon to be six) great grandchildren. In retirement they have fuller schedules than before, taking advantage of their health and sharing their talents. Their gifts together are many including baking, fixing things, helping others, gardening (flowers, vegetables and pecan trees) and square dancing. As a couple they set united examples of generosity, wisdom, respect, faithfulness, resourcefulness, accountability, fiscal responsibility, health consciousness, and family devotion. So you can see why the news anchors recalling the headlines of the past year seems rather uninspiring on New Year’s Eve - we’ve always had a marriage to celebrate and rejoice!

"To Each His Own"
What good is a song if the words just don't belong?
And a dream must be a dream for two
No good alone, to each his own
For me there's you

And today as almost every year before, our father gave her a bouquet of pink carnations and she made him a pecan pie.

My prayer for the congregation?

God of Life, You bring forth the great in the simplest of our acts, beliefs, and lives. On our own we are bare and plain. You dreamed the color to the skies, the vibrancy in the flowers, and the flush in our cheeks when love comes near. As loving parents of all those to whom we have promised to watch, let us always remember that they will follow our ways more than our words. Guide our lives to be living examples of the qualities that you wish to uphold. We offer thanksgivings for the many couples who have shown us the resiliency and favor of realizing their golden anniversaries. Your love is greater than gold. Amen.