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John and I celebrated our 51st wedding anniversary on August 21! Some of you reading this were not even born yet! We thank God for the opportunity to continue growing in our ability to love and care for one another through all these years.

I asked John to join me for this Movin’ Together broadcast because he has been a significant player in my pursuit of being a certified trainer with the American Council on Exercise. Our daughter Johanna blessed us with a painting hanging on our office wall of John and me riding the train in the area while I am wearing my Movin’ Together hat. A continual reminder that we are traveling together to bless and support one another. We are on the same team!

Also, in our bedroom, we have a plaque that reads, marriage is a successful triangle between a man, a woman, and God. It reminds us of what the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 4 – ‘ though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.’ The Cord of Three Strands represents God, the groom, and the bride – braiding these three strands symbolizes the joining of one man, one woman, and God in marriage. When we go through challenging times, we can choose to support and care for one another. Another reminder to put our marriage as a top priority!

John’s encouragement on the broadcast was to support your partner in what God has called your husband or wife to do. If you let yourself drift into your world, you will eventually drift apart. Don’t become isolated and drift into your worlds. If you are in a situation where work does not allow direct encouragement, find something you can both be passionate about for the greater good of family and community and work together. Be an essential part of each other’s lives.

Your life situation may differ from John’s and mine; however, the recipe is still the same – building each other up by supporting and encouraging one another by sharing words of kindness and appreciation.

In our 51 years of marriage, we have had great joys and sadness, but together with God, we have grown to love each other more each year.