Forty years on!

Me, my 'new' wife, and Mr Duncan

Today is a day of somewhat mixed emotions!  It was on Sept 4th, 1970, that I stood in front of the Rev. George B. Duncan, in St.George's-Tron Parish Church in the heart of Glasgow, as a vision in white walked steadily towards me, on her father's arm.  Within a very short time, that beautiful young girl had become my wife, and she has stood by me, faithfully, for these forty years - supporting me, encouraging me, loving me more than I have ever deserved.  She has given me two wonderful daughters, who have been a constant source of joy to us both.  I constantly thank God for bringing, and keeping, us together.

All of that is not to say that there have never been any difficult times in the past forty years.  Since we are, each of us, fallen human creatures, that would be a ridiculous claim to make.  However, I am able to say, with total confidence, that the good has far outweighed the not-so-good (and there hasn't been anything that I could describe as 'bad').

The happy couple.

Sadly, it is also the first of our wedding anniversaries on which I have not been able to take my wee wife in my arms to tell her that I love her. :-(   I continue to wait for the return of my car, in order that I might tow the caravan home.  Unfortunately, I was informed, yesterday, that the work hasn't even been started!  To say that my wife, and family, and I were (are!) unhappy would probably be one of the understatements of the decade (remembering that, as a 'purist', I don't count the first decade of the 21st century as ending until Dec 31st 2010!).  It will now be Monday before I will be able to find out anything more!  At least my command of the French language is improving!  Je suis trés irrité.  La situation est ridicul!

Writing to the disciples of Jesus in first-century Colossae, Paul prayed "... that you will be strengthened with all His glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father." (Col 1:11-12; NLT).  Perhaps even more pertinently, for me (!), he wrote to Titus: "Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience." (Titus 2:2; NLT).

I have to think, again, of those 33 Chilean miners, whose separation from their loved ones is going to be a lot longer than mine.  And I have to think of so many, in the persecuted church, whose loved ones are taken away - often without any warning - and incarcerated in conditions that can be described, at best, as inhumane.  I have to think of those whose suffering is for no other reason than their steadfast faith in, and allegiance to, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Some of them have waited, patiently, for years before they have been reunited.  Some have never been reunited at all!

We value the concern, and prayerful support, of a number of dear friends at this time.  Let us all remember to support, in every way possible, those whose situations make ours seem pleasant by comparison!