I was blessed, last month, with the
opportunity to join my sister and brother in blessing my parents with a 50th
wedding anniversary “surprise” party. What a priceless occasion it was for us. I
so appreciated my family, here in Kampot, who sacrificed to make it possible
for me to go. It was a very special time. I wanted to share with you all something
I wrote for Mom and Dad in honor of the special occasion. It is a letter to
them but also a “memoir” of sorts…
Moments in time.
Life is a gift. It is a gift of daily
opportunity. That opportunity is one that affords us our most
valuable commodity, time. Time is made up of precious moments. Every
moment of everyday, is building that life, taking advantage of that
opportunity, choosing to hold dear the gift that has been given. The wise, take
the moments, and gratefully use them to the Glory of God.
Yes, these moments are like windows of time to
make a difference this side of heaven and get up every day ready to humbly
choose to be a blessing. I have a childhood full of memories and
impressions of two people who lived out before me the ability to take those
moments and turn them into a story for our lives (or a lifetime) filled with
scenes of faithfulness, of love, of peace, of joy… a magical story. Yes, and in
that story, they made Jesus the Hero, and in our eyes that made them all the
more like that Hero.
There was a man and a woman, my father and my
mother. They found each other and saw in each other a depth of
character. They also saw potential. Fifty years ago, they saw in each other,
the possibly of having someone to journey through life with that they could
respect and trust. They formed a partnership, a covenant to join lives and work
together to build a Godly home and give from themselves with thoughts of having
children that would do the same. They had a vision and have faithfully walked
it out for five decades.
God saw them and saw in them
ones He could trust. He began to woo them, He began to build. He used them
together and there was woven the most beautiful piece of handiwork to display
to any who looked upon it. He was the master craftsman but oh how perfect and
malleable they were in His hands. The pattern of bright colors and
soft hues, fun curves, and straight borders… were made, of moments, precious
wonderful opportunities that were new mercies every morning from the Father.
These opportunities were always capitalized upon in the Lilly home. Mom and
Daddy were humble and faithful enough to use them wisely.
Those times, those moments, were seasons, days
full of love and life. And we were the blessed recipients. Mom and Daddy, there
aren’t words to express the treasure that we have had in you. All the time and
energy that you put into loving, encouraging, and patiently tending to our
family has blessed us beyond words. The seasons of reading together by the
fire, praying, spending quality time laughing and crying
together, enjoying summer breezes on the
front porch, taking trips to Disney, listening to stories while watching
“lippers”, eating wonderful meals cooked all day in the crock pot, ever hearing
of the wonderful testimony of things the
Lord was doing, all unforgettable memories, moments.
Seasons were always embraced along the
journey. Summers were filled with picnics on the carport, scenes of Daddy going
round quickly on the riding mower racing the clock or the sun, daily swims at
the lake, and tomato sandwiches. Fall came with smells of crackling fires, big
bright pumpkins and leaves, and the yearly stacking of wood. Winters were full
of watching Daddy haul in that wood and make roaring fires while snuggling with
Mom over good books. Night vigils spent curled up watching for snow was always
in order on those cold nights. Christmas came with meals and laughter, soft
lights and scripture. Easters were spent with the same vibrant joy that marked
the Rising of the Son. Just the thought of being there in the rows at church, I
remember feeling the Life you all were pointing us to through your dedication
to each other and to us. Those special
times were filled with moments that you all patiently, lovingly, and joyfully
chose to be faithful and unselfishly bless, choosing to enjoy each
other, the journey, and to raise us in the fear and admonition of the Lord.
You all took a life time of daily
opportunities and made not only precious moments but helped forge a pathway to
eternal life. You showed us the Way. You made a covenant with God and walked it
out in front of us. You took a moment 50 years ago to make a pledge to honor
and care for each other till death you would part. It was just a moment, but oh
how significant the lifetime built upon that moment has been.
Thank you for living and loving faithfully
before us. You have shown us the love of
the Father and the Unity of the Trinity. You have chosen moment by moment to be
faithful to the covenant and the call. So today, Mom and Daddy, we bless and
celebrate God’s gift to us in you. We take this opportunity to seize a moment
in time to recognize the beauty of all those moments where you chose rightly
and in so doing blessed all of us along the journey of this life.
May you receive many return blessings for your
faithfulness. We love you dearly.
Happy 50th Anniversary,
Kristen
