Love is a beautifully strange thing. It steadies the heart. It honours the recipients. It sees flaws and chooses to care anyway. We are products of love. For all our lives, we have witnessed our parents love each other unconditionally and unrestrainedly. December 1, 2020, marks thirty years since our parents have been married. To be honest, our minds cannot fathom it. It has not sunk in yet. It is surreal. Thirty years of marriage is a mighty long time, pun intended. This blog entry is a collaboration between siblings and is dedicated to the Parentals, as we affectionately call them.
Our parents are immutable and perfect examples of what a marriage should look like. When our parents showed us memorabilia from their wedding, we saw bookmarkers and programmes with the label, “Two hearts, one love”. This is what they lived out before us and before the world. They operate as a unit. They were solid from the get-go, refusing to flow with the ever-changing view of what a marriage should be. They had a vision in mind and they executed it.
Reminiscent of their relationship are the stories they would tell – about their time together before us, about the many wonderful and terrible and surreal times they had together. Over thirty years of history shows the wisdom and wonder of their marriage.
We appreciate many things about them and their relationship. However, the one thing that stands out is their consistency. It meant working through financial issues when the children had to go to school. It meant resolving arguments before they even started. They did not say one thing and act out something contrary. Love never only meant hugs and kisses. It also meant washing and ironing his white shirts for work without complaining. It meant bringing home jerked pork (wedges, wings, etc.) for the one you love just because she loved it. Their example showed us how we should be treated.
We are most grateful for a stable household. We certainly did not have much growing up, but we were content. Disagreements were never loud, but discrete. They chose to fight fairly. They called each other out on their mistakes in love and compassion. Maybe that is why we are gentle when we share with our friends. The Parentals are extremely supportive of each other, no matter what. No birthday was forgotten. They were with each other at every award ceremony, every funeral, and so much more. They each opted to stick around when either one suffered with ailments on different occasions. Our family has gone through many life changes, both painful and celebratory. Still, they chose to be dedicated to each other, come what may.
Celebrating milestones like these are worthwhile when you have done life together, with love and in love. They defied the odds. Our parents are evidence that marriage does not have to be a sham. It is an incredible thing when you find love without conditions. It just takes a little more effort every day. Each moment will not be hunky dory. However, couples must always remember why they started in hard times and not be complacent in the good times. Our parents being here today is really a testament to the faithfulness of God Himself. It was He who placed them together and allowed them to live a fruitful life for the world to see.
To the Parentals, our biggest fans (and our biggest trolls), thank you for all you have done for each other and for us. This family is blessed because you are a unit. We are grateful for you and the love you share, keeping God at the centre. Thank you for years of laughter and sticking with each other through grief. We pray that you both will crush more milestones together. Here’s to more “Mighty” long times… We love you!
Happy 30th Anniversary
Gloria + Morris
December 1, 1990 – 2020