On Being Married Twice as Long as Being Single

It seems like just a few months ago that I was standing on the threshold of Merle Bruce on the campus of ETBC helping incoming freshman coeds move into their dorm rooms. It was 70's and the one time in the year that males were allowed in the girls dorm rooms.

On this fateful day I helped several young coeds a few of whom I'd met during the spring at the infamous Tiger Days, but one red head on crutches especially caught my eye.  She was petite with freckles and in very much in need of assistance.  She was in an old beat up tank of a car held together by bailing wire and spit filled with boxes and clothes. She was still recovering from knee surgery from a VB injury.  At the time I thought awesome, cute, athletic and tough.   I introduced myself and began to help unload her stuff and get her relocated.

I asked her out sometime later that week. Don't remember exactly where we went, probably the cafeteria and a campus event since we were both poor college students.  By Thanksgiving I knew this young lady was special and I needed to spend my life with her.  As Christmas break approached we made plans for my visit to her home to ask her Dad for permission to marry her.

Upon arrival her brother met with open and running sores on his face. I was warned that he was big into theatre arts and to be prepared for anything.  When I asked her Dad for permission the next day his response was, "What did you bring to trade for her?"  I was caught off guard at first, then offered to trade one of my calves. He messed with me a little bit longer, but her Mom got on to him and he said yes letting me off the hook.

When I got home I informed my folks I was engaged and that we planned to marry in June. They weren't overly thrilled that I was about to get married before I finished college.

I worked January to March at the local bowling alley keeping the machinery operational and dragging lanes before my Dad called me one day and said quit because he didn't like the place. The thing he forgot to tell me was that he had a job for me in his new business.  So for the last two months of spring and the summer we got married I learned the cattle auction business from the backend.  Sleeping Monday in a sleeping bag checking in cattle and then going back to morning classes before driving back to finish yarding cattle and staying until dark thirty to load them out.

When our wedding finally arrived I was ready to start my life with her.  Our first night in our first place was inaugurated by the discovery of a flea infestation.  We had to spray the bed with pet spray because it was all we could find at the store.  The next day we bombed it while we were at work selling cattle.  My bride worked in the front office helping with books or in the cafe with her knew mother-in-law selling burgers and fries.

When school started in September we were so ready to get there.  My parents fear of me not finishing were quickly relieved when they discovered that my bride was more of a task master about school than they could have imagined.  Because of her drive I finished on time and with a whole lot better grades than I had when I was single.  Come to think of it my entire educational success is largely because of her support or nagging.

Did I mention she has the spiritual gift of "nag'!

Now two children, two careers, a daughter-in-law and two wonderful grandsons later I stand on the threshold of celebrating the anniversary that marks my live as husband doubling that as a single man.  Oh sure, there are quite a few things that I'd change along the way. Less debt, less hard headedness on my part (she's been right quite a bit more than I'd like to admit), one job change, a couple of gun shot wounds and some other poor decisions for sure. But there is one thing that I would not change and that is the night I got down on my knee and asked the cute freckled faced red headed hippie to marry me.  That decision was the second most important decision of my then 19 years of life.

Yes, 38 years ago on June 15 my life as husband began with my best friend.  I can't believe that she's put up with me this long. Thank you God for sending us both to ETBC and allowing our paths to intersect and intertwine for the journey here in Your creation.

Happy 38th sweetheart!! I love you more each year we grow together.

Do Your Job

This year our head coach challenged us to lead our players to "Do Your Job!" with enthusiasm. If we are to do this we must do our job also. Everyday getting prepared to prepare them to do their job.

In Romans, Paul speaks of one of those characteristics that often gets in the way of doing our job. In the passage he's talking to the family of God in Rome who is having problems with the proper attitude about meat. Now remember its not just meat, but rather meat sacrificed to false gods. For some its a huge thing because they feel like it dishonors God, for others they don't believe in the gods so they don't see it as a matter of sin.

When I was growing up I remember that it was a really big deal for Baptists not to eat in restaurants where they served alcohol (beer, wine, etc.) because of the Baptist stance against drinking. It wasn't necessarily wrong to eat in that restaurant, but you didn't want to give the impression that you supported the liquor industry. For many it was a deep sin, for others it wasn't that important.

Here Paul urges us to avoid being a stumbling block, both to believers and non-believers. And how are we to cease causing folks to fall, don't judge.

In the heat of the moment on the practice field we blurt out a correction in a harsh tone that the athlete cowers from. We question their mental capacity. We question their dedication and commitment. We judge.

In life away from the 'practice field' we do the same thing. Paul urges us to check ourselves.

This summer take time to check yourself!!