Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Give Me Words to Speak




What do you say about 25 years? When I turned 25 years old, I remember thinking that my life had no purpose because it’s been a quarter of a century already and what had I accomplished?

Well, I had graduated high school (the first in my family to do so,) graduated college, had a pretty good job, owned a home, and had gotten married. But even then I was searching for significance, not success as defined by the world. Twenty-five years at that time seemed like forever.

Now, 25 years seems like a blip, or a more accurate term would be bliss. Wedded bliss, that is. Michael Kevin Basham and I have been married for 25 years today! Now, there’s significance for you!




God opened up the heavens and rained down grace unimaginable when He gave us to each other. There’s no way that 25 years has passed. I guess time really does fly when you’re having fun.

A friend told me recently that I have a perfect marriage, at least the most perfect one that she knows. And I have to agree with her. I think our marriage is as close to perfect as one can get.

Not that I’m a perfect woman (though Mike says I’m really close) married to a perfect man (I think he’s really close) but that we both are close to the Perfect One and we allow Him to work in us and through us for the benefit of each other.

Yes, we disagree. But we agree to look to God for the resolution. Yes, we get mad. But we forgive each other quickly with God’s help. Yes, we’re both selfish. But we agree to put the other’s needs ahead of our own.

We love. A love that’s extremely easy most days, but on rare days it’s definitely a hard choice. We laugh. Not at each other, but with each other. (If you want to see some of the things that make us laugh, check out Tim Hawkins.)

We also cry. Together. We work to make sure the hard things unite us as we cling ever closer to Christ, and in turn that brings us ever closer to each other.

This is the scripture that we had printed on the napkins we used at our wedding reception. It encapsulates our marriage to this day:

Ecclesiastes 4.12b A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Mr. & Mrs. Michael Basham

January 21, 1984

I still like to watch him. It makes me smile to watch him when he doesn’t know. It also makes my heart overflow. I can’t believe how incredibly blessed I am.

I love to see his smile. He can smile at me from across the room and I feel so loved. I always feel like he is thrilled to see me. Michael is the epitome of how a man should love his wife as Christ loves the church.

What do you say about 25 years? I’m not really sure, but I’d like at least another 25 years with Michael to come up with something.

16 comments:

Jane said...

Awwww, Happy Anniversary Sylvia!!!
What a tribute to our Lord and Savior!

Renee

Beth said...

Congratulations! Mark & I celebrated 26 years together in August. Can't imagine my life without him.
You two are a real blessing to so many people. I'm hope you do have at LEAST 25 more years together!

Unknown said...

Happy Anniversary!!!

Jennifer said...

What a beautiful post...not only about your special marriage but God's blessing when we follow His design for marraige! Happy Happy Anniversary - I'm thrilled for both of you!

Jennifer

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary!!! Congratulations on 25 years together. I bet it seems like just 25 days, and yet also forever. I'm so happy for your wonderful marriage, which is a great example to so many. I hope you celebrate it in a very special way.

hashbrowns said...

a beautiful post, Sylvia-- your words give honor to marriage and make me so grateful for my 7 & 1/2 years... I'm gonna love 25 years.

Faye Creech said...

Happy (very belated!!) Anniversary! May you have many, many more years together!!

carrie said...

you are an inspiration.

proverb31wife said...

Shazam!! That's awesome. Happy Anniversary! That's for setting a great example for everyone around you.

Amy Carroll said...

What an awesome tribute to a God-centered marriage. Thank you for sharing your anniversery with us!

Amy

Jennifer said...

Hi Sylvia...thanks for the heads up about She Speaks - I did not realize registration had opened. I would really like to attend - need to make some serious decisions now! I'll let you know if I work it out - would love to see there!

Jane said...

Hi Sylvia,

That is funny...while memorizing scripture is certainly not easy and requires some discipline, I find that I can remember lines from my favorite movies or songs from "back in the day". So, why keep making excuses for why I can't memorize God's word.

I hope your Mom is doing better. We have had a rough week. Jessie's boyfriend's father passed away, such a surprise to us all. He left two boys behind, her boyfriend is almost 18 and his brother is almost 17.

Renee

Mel said...

That's beautiful Sylvia! You are an inspiration to me...Happy belated 25th Anniversary! May you both have many more wonderful years together.

Anonymous said...

Hey Sylvia - best wishes with your speaking engagement. You can quote my advice - straight from a reliable source! ;) And congrats on 25 years too. God bless.

Kelly said...

Hi! I just read today's P31 Devotional, "Brownie Knife" and searched through google. I assume you are the author. I just wanted to let you know I loved it! Great writing. Thanks for inspiring me today.

Kelly said...

p.s. Happy Anniversary!