The Wedding Wall

By Hally Franz –

My grandparents would have been married 80 years this November, and while they didn’t reach that milestone, Grandpa and Grandma did celebrate 69 years of marriage. I always remember what year they were wed, because their 60th anniversary occurred the year my husband, Tim, and I were married. We just celebrated our 20th anniversary.

My aunt has a display of family photos I dearly love. One wall holds 5×7 photographs of every marriage our family has celebrated over the years; only three, which ended, have been removed. My grandparents’ black-and-white photo is at the top. The next row includes photos from the weddings of their four children. Eight of us eleven grandchildren, along with our spouses, fill the third row in full color. And the bottom group consists of wedding ceremonies for five of the 23 great-grandchildren. There are currently five great-great-grandchildren, with more weddings and babies added yearly.

My cousins and I sometimes gather at the photos and laugh at the ever-changing wedding styles. Big hair and bunned hair, full skirts and sheath dresses share the space. Long sleeves and sweetheart necklines evolve over generations to sleeveless and strapless. It’s fun to see how fashions have changed and how our family has grown in eight decades. The wall is a source of family pride.

Like wedding fashions and families, marriages evolve over time. Looking back, I can recall trials and triumphs Tim and I have experienced over the years.

Growing our family was a struggle, but eventually we experienced the joys of having a biological son and bringing home a beautiful adopted daughter. Tim recently celebrated thirty years of employment with his company, and he has supported me in my various endeavors outside and inside our home. There have been losses and times of turmoil – some years and memories better than others.

We’ve grown a lot in our faith since 1993, and our Heavenly Father has been with us during our most difficult and joyous times. If He had not, we may not have reached this anniversary.

So, what will the next twenty years bring? More photos added to my aunt’s wedding wall? No doubt. Perhaps a return to sleeves? I hope. Grandchildren? Not during the first ten, please. New goals and dreams? Of course. The comfort that each day we share will be because of Him, shared by Him, governed by Him, and blessed by Him. Absolutely!

PRAYER: Gracious God, thank You for the gift of marriage! Help us make each day count as a couple, enjoying our relationship while serving You in our home, church and community.

“Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples, Give to the LORD glory and strength.” (1 Chronicles 16:28 NKJV).