50 Years

Five decades. Half a Century. That’s a long time, for anything. It’s especially important when it’s a relationship that’s existed for 50 years. When it’s a marriage, they call it the golden anniversary. I’ve been close to two such anniversaries. The first was in 1982, my mom’s folks. I was eight, the same age that Carter was this summer at April’s parents’ event. I love symmetry.

As for April and me, we’re heading towards the nice round number of 15. It seems like a lot, until you compare it to 50. We’ve come a long way in our almost 15 years. We know each other better than ever before. We’ve got three kids that have completely changed our lives. I think we have a much deeper understanding of what “love” is.

But, there’s also much that we haven’t had to endure. When I see people that have been married for 50 years, they always have stories of hardship, or they’re living those stories in front of me. There’s good and bad all entwined to add up to life and love and being “one.” That’s a lesson worth remembering.

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After putting that down into words, I was reminded that my preference for love songs has changed over the years. The best love songs are not bubbly pop, ooey gooey, melt in my hand kinds of songs. They’re more like this one, by Eric Peters, written about his grandparents.

THESE HANDS – by Eric Peters

does anyone here remember Wilton Reeves?
does anyone here remember his sweet wife?
made a humble home in south Louisiana
he must have crossed these fields a thousand times

he held her shriveled hands near his body
he lifted up her useless, withered feet
it’s hard when you hold the hand of struggle
but when you love there’s no way to retreat

these eyes have seen two wars, more than most men
but these hands have longed to hold your figure,
have you touch me with your fingers
I could fall apart deep within your hands

they took their vows before the planting season
but in 1901 there was no time for grieving
she never asked for any of the reasons
he never looked for his within the bottle

what he treasured most of all was giving
he’d kneel down at her side to kiss her cheek
it’s easy when you’ve held the hand of mercy
and when you love there is no way to leave

these eyes have seen two wars, more than most men
but these hands have longed to hold your figure,
have you touch me with your fingers
I could fall apart deep within your hands

does anyone here remember Wilton Reeves?

That’s love, right?

To all of those that have been married for 50 years, I salute you. I say you know more about love than any sappy pop star can dream about. And I say thank you for sharing that love with the rest of us, through your words, yes, but mostly through your actions.

Just passing through,

Eric