Recently my wife, Margaret, and I celebrated our 61st Wedding Anniversary. Our marriage service used the traditional words. We were reminded that God instituted marriage in the Garden of Eden and that marriage is to be entered upon thoughtfully and reverently as in the presence of the living God. Marriage was ordained “for the life-long companionship, help and comfort which husband and wife ought to have of each other, both in prosperity and adversity. It was ordained to hallow the natural affection and desire between man and woman so that they should live in purity and honour. It was ordained for the increase of mankind that children might be brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord. It was ordained for the welfare of human society which can only be strong and happy when the marriage bond is held in honour.”

At our wedding we made solemn promises in the presence of God: “to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until God separates us by death.” Margaret and I have both needed God’s grace to keep the vows we made at our wedding. We have both needed to exercise patience and to be willing to forgive each other as we have lived together and brought up our family. The fact that we are still together and love one another is a testimony to God’s faithfulness and the help he has given us as we have encountered various challenges over the years.

Soon after we married, Margaret and I became Christians when we received Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord who came from heaven that we might have life and have it to the full. More than 6 years ago Margaret suffered a slight stroke and in the following year began to show early signs of dementia. A year later she was formally diagnosed with vascular dementia. Nearly 30 years ago Margaret had cared for her mother who also had vascular dementia. For the past 4 years I have committed myself to caring for Margaret with the loving support of our family and friends and, more recently, an excellent team of carers.

At our wedding in 1964 we promised to love and care for one another “in sickness and in health.” It has been my privilege to care for Margaret. On our Wedding Anniversary I reflected on how precious every day is that God gives us and the life we still enjoy together. One day our heavenly Father will separate us by death. We will go to the place in heaven our blessed Saviour has prepared for us and “he will wipe away every tear from our eyes.”