God's Words

A week ago we saw that our friends the Bradleys made a visit to former neighbors of ours in Wisconsin, the Goudzwaards. I have sent this couple (now in their 90s) a Christmas card every year, but this year didn't hear back from them, so I was fearing the worst. To see the picture at left of them made me tear up. Ayla and Anton will remember them because Jack made them both their name in stained glass. With both our children having unusual names, to have their name in stained glass was pretty cool. Jack did this as a gift for them and pretty much every other child in the neighborhood. As the couple got older, Anton was paid to snow blow/shovel their driveway and sidewalk after winter storms. We loved and enjoyed this couple very much. I remember Jack and Elaine taking many walks around the track at the middle school across the street from us. When we lived there, I know they celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary, so they must be close to 70 years of marriage by now. Can you imagine ... 70 years of marriage?! Donna Bradley posted the picture above that she took when she visited them. Sweet as I remember and sitting there holding hands. When I showed the picture to Daddy, he said, "That's us!" I think, like me, he hopes we will be together 40+ years into the future, still smiling, still holding hands.

One of the things I loved about our sweet neighbors was their name. I remember when Elaine first introduced herself to me, "Goudzwaard ... like God's Word." Who wouldn't want that for their last name? And they lived by it. They regularly attended our church, Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Appleton, WI.

That little elderly couple has been through a lot in their 70 years together. They have had tragedies, challenges, joys and successes. And yet there they sit still smiling and holding hands. They are an inspiration.

We live in a world where many things are disposable: contacts, diapers, razors ... and sadly, marriages. If it's not working, if it gets too hard, end it. We want to you know marriage is not disposable. It's a binding contract in the eyes of God, designed to represent Christ's relationship with the church. And it does take effort to keep it fresh, filled with love, successful and fun. But it is so worth it. Just look at Jack and Elaine. That's how we hope to be ... side-by-side with the love of our life for the duration of this earthly life.

Live by God's Word. 1 Peter 4:8 says, "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." Romans 12:10 says, "Outdo one another in showing honor." Ephesians 4:26 says, "Do not let the sun go down on your anger." Colossians 3:13 says, "Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Philippians 2:2 says, "Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind." So don't sit back after the wedding and take your marriage - your love - for granted. Work at it every single day. We promise you, after your relationship with Christ, your marriage will be the best investment you ever make.

Discussion: Do you know of some other couples who have been together for a long time? Why do you think it takes work to have a successful marriage. What are things you can do to make your marriage fun, fresh, successful and filled with love?

Prayer: Lord we thank You that You created marriage to be binding and beautiful. We pray that we make the effort to work at having a loving, forgiving, fun, glorifying marriage. Thank You for examples like the Goudzwaards. Please bless them. In Jesus, Amen.

22!

 You know how much Daddy loves the number 22. Today's date is pretty much the reason for that. Feb. 22 is Great Grandpa Anton Zimanek's birthday. Today he would have been 101 years old. Daddy didn't just like 22 because it was his grandfather's birthday, although that would have been enough. He also liked it because Great-Grandpa Anton shot a .22. "It was the first gun I shot," Daddy says. From childhood on, your Daddy would always choose #22 for his jersey in baseball, basketball and football when he would play. It was a tribute to this man who your father respected more than any other man ... and deservedly so.

Grandpa was a pretty cool guy. What your Daddy said he felt from his Grandpa was unconditional love. "I felt it from him immediately. Don't get me wrong, he was strict. You worked hard when you were with him, but I loved it, cause it was fun. I would do anything with him," he said. He explains that one of the best days of his life was when he was 6 years old and had worked all day with Grandpa grinding corn, collecting eggs, feeding the cows and picking apples. Grandpa then took him to Mary Nelson's country store and gave him a dollar, where your Daddy bought the 1971 NFL preseason magazine with John Brodie, quarterback for the 49ers, on the cover. "I still have it," Daddy says. "It signifies hard work and love."

I asked your Daddy what he learned about marriage from his Grandpa. He said Grandma and Grandpa held hands all the time and kissed a lot. "They were never afraid of public displays of affection," he says. Great Grandpa always thought his wife was his beautiful bride. "This is even after 60+ years of marriage," Daddy says. "You can't make that up. You felt it when you were with him. I mean, they fought, yeah, but he would do anything for her." When they did fight, Grandpa would go take a walk saying he didn't want to say anything he'd later regret. I remember how precious they were together. Lot's of giggling between them.

Brad said a year before Grandpa died, they were sitting under a tree on a hill overlooking the Big Rock when he said to your Daddy, "Have sex as often as you can, because there will come a day when you can't and you wish you could." I personally remember him talking about Grandma's "fluffy pillows" when referring to her, ahem, chest.

Of course the first thing we always think about Grandpa is him singing "How Great Thou Art." He sang it every day with his dog Scottie as they walked a trail on his Sobieski, WI property. And I'm pretty sure both Ayla and Anton remember hearing him sing it. Your Daddy still tears up when he sings it. Great Grandpa loved the Lord. Your Daddy says he remembers seeing Grandpa get excited on Easter morning about going to worship the Risen Christ.

Your Daddy thought enough of Great Grandpa to name our son after him. It is the highest honor we could pay him and honestly a perfect namesake as one to emulate for Anton.

So Grandpa's marriage advice ... show love often, have fun, love passionately, work hard, take care of each other and love your Lord. We look forward to visiting in Heaven with him and Grandma one day to play a game of pinochle. Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

Discussion: What do you remember about Great Grandpa Anton? Of his advice, what is something you would want to apply to your marriage?

Prayer: We thank you, Lord, for the life of Anthony "Anton" Walter Zimanek, Sr. He loved you, Lord, and set an example to follow in worship of you. We thank you for all our journey's in life and the lives that intersect with ours. In Jesus, Amen.