I hope you enjoy this week’s story. It is a fictitious story about a married couple named David and Ann. Though the story is made up, I hope you will be able to glean some truths of life and love from it.

Please leave a like if you enjoyed the story and I always enjoy reading your comments.

Fifteen Years Later

Standing at the stove one day, you started thinking about us.  Had it really been 15 years since we were married?  It seemed like just yesterday when we met.  Where had the years flown?

You glanced at the pictures hanging in the dining room.  They were arranged so you could see them from the kitchen.  You blushed when you saw our wedding picture as you remembered our wedding night.  Looking at the pictures just then, you thought how handsome I was and how beautiful you felt in that dress.  You have the dress stored away, hoping that one day one of our daughters will want to wear it on her wedding day.

Our children.  You smiled as you looked at each of their four photos hanging there in our family arrangement of pictures.

Is Elliot Nathan actually 14?  He was just an infant two days ago.  You didn’t expect to get pregnant quite so quickly after we were married.  The joy you saw in my eyes when you told me.  Yes, even now, you knew that you had chosen the right man at that time.  You knew I was somewhat hesitant about being a dad at my age, but my reaction to your announcement told you I would be with you and would love you and our child.

Then, two years later, Nina Joy made her appearance.  You thought of how I have always told you that she is the spitting image of her mama.  Those same beautiful green eyes, flowing hair, gentle spirit.  Well, mostly gentle spirit you laughed to yourself.  She can be much rowdier than either of her brothers.

Then, David John.  At 11 years old, he is just a year younger than Nina.  We thought we would wait after having Nina.  But alas, God had other plans for us.  You wanted to name him after me.  Yes, we went back and forth with many different names, but you won.  You chuckled because I often let you win.  Davie is our quiet child.  He loves to read, and play with our animals and is gentle and caring of others.

But he gave us a scare when he was two.  You remembered how you had the scissors on the table as you were cutting some fabric.  You were going to try to sew something.  Davie reached up and took the scissors.  He was trying to run away from you when he fell with the scissors.  The point of them broke through the skin on the right side of his face and almost removed his ear.

You screamed for me to come right away.  Entering the room, I saw a scene of almost total chaos.  Davie was crying and screaming, you were white as a ghost.  I had you hold a towel tightly to his head to stop the bleeding.  I grabbed the other two children. and we rushed to the hospital.

Your mom and my brother, Ben, and his wife met us at the hospital.  They took care of Elliot and Nina so we could go into the emergency room with Davie.  The doctor came quickly to the room to examine our little son.  X-rays were taken, iv’s were put in.  You shuddered yet now thinking how scared you were at that time.

When they got him cleaned up, the doctor comforted us that although head injuries can bleed a lot, they are usually not as serious as they look.  Looking back now, the doctor was right.  Davie’s loose flap of skin was sewn back on.  He never had problems with his ear like we thought he might.  Except for the small length of scar from where he received his stitches, one would never know the trauma he put his parents through.  We both know how God was watching out for our family that day.

You remembered how you became a hover mom after that for a while.  Hovering over each of the children, making sure they were safe.  You thought about the stress it caused between us during that time.  You were trying to trust God, yet you felt you had to watch over all three of them constantly.  The stress of it all began to wear on your body as you began to get sick.

One Sunday at church, God spoke to your heart and you finally were able to lay it at His feet.  What relief you felt!

What a day that was.  Such joy.  Such peace.

At home after the service, you came to me and snuggled into a hug.  Crying you asked my forgiveness for the way you had been.  For the fights regarding letting the kids be kids.  But most of all asking forgiveness for feeling like I didn’t love the children as much as you did.

I leaned into your hair telling you that no forgiveness is needed, but I do forgive you.  I knew you were struggling with this and questioning why God let it happen. And then struggling with trusting Him to protect our family as you thought He should.  I whispered for you to please forgive me for not being as gentle and understanding as I should have been as you struggled.

I whispered how much I love you and we shared a good cry standing in the kitchen, hugging each other.

You smiled with that memory as you looked at the pictures again.

Barbara Ann, our surprise child.  I wanted to name her after you to honor you.  You said that would be okay for the middle name.  You felt it would be too confusing for both of you to have the first name of Ann.  So, she became Barbara Ann.  Three years old and already a handful.  Seems the girls in this family are going to be the ones we need to tame down a little.  You remembered the night she came to be.

After the events with Davie and God healing your heart at church, you were much more relaxed, more like your old self.  One night your mom had the three children and we were enjoying a quiet night at home alone.  Something that rarely happened any longer.  It was about supper time and you were back in the bedroom.  I was wondering what you were doing and hollered back to you to see if you were coming to the kitchen.

You came out in a frilly lacy nightie.  Your outfit told me supper might be late that night.  You came over to me and planted a great big kiss on me.  Looking into my eyes, you said with a smokey voice, ‘’Hey, there sailor, looking for a good time.’’  We enjoyed more than supper that night.

Several weeks later you started waking up each morning not feeling very well.  The kids all just had the flu so you didn’t think very much about it.

I teased maybe you were pregnant.  After Davie, we talked about birth control, but like many things in our lives, you said we should leave it in God’s hands.  If He thinks we should have 11 children we will, if only 3, that is okay.  Since it had been 7 years since Davie was born, you thought we must be through having children.  After all, you were already 43, you didn’t think getting pregnant again was very likely.

After a week and a half of you not feeling well, a home pregnancy test confirmed, child number 4 was on its way.  We were both filled with so much joy.  You knew I felt more apprehensive now being in my mid-60s. Still, you knew I wouldn’t change it for the world.

You always found it so funny when we would be out and about with the children.  People who didn’t know us would come up and say to the children, ”Are you having fun being out with mom and grandpa today?”  You commented many times on the smile of pride I had when the children responded that he isn’t our grandpa, he is our dad.  Then we’d laugh as the people walked away not knowing what to say.

Remembering all these things seemed like a lifetime that flashed by in just a moment’s time.  You look at the pots on the stove, and you remember that it is just the two of us today.  The three oldest are in school until 3, and Barbara is at a friend’s house for a playdate.  It has been quite some time for the house to be this quiet.

You thought for a moment.  Did it seem we had drifted apart a little?  So many activities and things to do.  It didn’t seem to you that we had as much time for us lately.  We were always running the kids here or there.  Sports things, doctor appointments, play dates. carpools

Then there’s the full-time job you have.  Cleaning the house.  The list never seems to end.  You smiled as you thought about how we handled things together.  You knew the burden wasn’t always on you, but sometimes it still felt that way.  A frown crossed your face.  Not that you felt overwhelmed at the moment.  Just in thinking of all there is to do.

Unknown to you, I had come into the kitchen and had been silently watching you at the stove.  Admiring you as you stood there in your white blouse, blue pants that fit just right, and the blue and white gingham apron with the ruffled edging that you wear to keep your blouse clean.

God, how You have blessed me with this wonderful woman, I thought to myself.  I looked at you and realized God’s love to give me a wife like you.

My gaze lingered on your body.  Your hair is longer now.  You realized with 3 young children long hair wasn’t ideal.  So, you had cut it short for a few years.  When Davie turned 3 you decided it would be safe to let it grow out again.

You debated about cutting it again when Barbara came along but decided to wear it up until she was older.  Lately, you had begun to let it down more.  It was almost the same length as when we first met.  Only now there were a few more flecks of gray and silver making it even more lovely.

There I stood admiring your body.  Even after 4 children, you managed to keep in good shape.  Yes, you had a bit of a mom body, but you had lost most of the weight from the pregnancies.  I was proud and jealous as I saw other men notice your figure when we went out together.

Because of your love, I had also become less of a man than I was when we first met.  Not that I am less manly, but you helped me go from a very overweight 350-pound man to a 185-pound man.  I felt so much better.  You never nagged or made me feel bad about myself.  You just gently helped me learn to eat better and we exercised together.  Even now, one of my favorite parts of my day is when we have the opportunity to for a walk together.  Just holding hands.  Feeling the bond of love that comes from the trials of marriage we have been through.

Although, you do give me a playful scolding when you find an empty McDonald’s fries box in the garbage.  I know it is your way of letting me know how much you care about me.  Especially after the heart scare, we had a few years ago.  You helping me lose weight and change my diet saved me from another heart surgery that we thought I might have to have.

Admiring you there, I noticed you glancing back and forth from the pots to the pictures.  You were in such deep thought, that you hadn’t heard me enter the kitchen even though I had been standing there several minutes.  You turned your head slightly and I saw the frown that crossed your face.

I walked over to you and wrapped my arms around you from behind, squeezing you tight.  I smelled your hair.  It still has the faint smell of the peach-scented shampoo you use.  I gently moved the hair from the right side of your face and resumed my embrace.

“My honey bunny.  Is something wrong?  I see you frowning.”  I whispered in your ear.

You set down the spoon you were stirring rice with and place your hands and arms on mine.  “No, my Honey Bear, nothing is wrong.’’  You squeezed my arms tighter to you.  ‘’It has been a long time since you called me Honey Bunny.  I still love hearing that.”
I squeezed you tighter.

You giggled, “Not so tight I have to breathe.”

I relaxed my grip. and whispered, ”Darling, I have loved you for so long.  It is hard to believe it is 15 years already.”

You sighed, ”That is what I was just thinking as well.”

We stood there together.  My arms around you, your arms on mine.

Lean next to your ear and softly say ‘’I know I don’t say this enough lately, but I love so very much.  God has blessed me so much with you as my wife.  It amazes me the wonderful mother you are to the four children.  Teaching them your ways and my customs.  But mostly the Godly example you are to them and how they are all living for Christ as you have led them.  Thank you for being my wife.”  I hug you a little tighter.

”Oh my darling,” you say, pressing your head next to mine. ”You have brought such joy to me as well.  I knew I loved you from the first time I met you.  Thank you for being my husband.  Thank you for taking a chance on me.”

”I had no other choice,” I say chuckling.  ”Remember you told me you bewitched me.  I had to fall in love with you.”

I lean over and kiss your neck.  I recognize the gasp that escaped your lips.  It’s one not heard very often anymore due to our busy lives.  I softly blow in your ear and nibble at your ear lobe.

You release your arms from mine, reach over turn the stove burners off, and move the pots from the burners.

Then you turn around in my arms to face me and wrap your arms around me. Your emerald eyes are twinkling. ”You know, we have the whole house to ourselves for the next couple of hours.”  You smile and lean in for a kiss.  I try to mutter something about the food on the stove and you tell me it will keep.

Yes, 15 years of marriage and 4 children later, and we were still very much in love.  I would have never thought getting married later in life, nearly 50 years old, that I would be so happy and blessed.  And to think at first, I was concerned that the girl I loved was so much younger than me.  But as she often told me, ‘’The heart picks love, not the age of the person.’’

Ultimately, we know that God picks out the right person for us.  It is only up to us to listen for His voice.

Through rocky and turbulent times, we knew we could hold onto each other.  But the most important part is that we both had Christ as the center of our marriage.  On that Rock, our marriage could stand strong through anything.  And can stand strong for another 15, 20, or 30 years.

And we are both looking forward to what is to come!