Thirty-three years ago today, a young man and a young woman stood before God, surrounded by family and friends, and promised one another a lifetime.
Like every young couple, we had plans. We had dreams. We wondered where life would take us.
We talked about children – possibly two or three… maybe four if we were feeling especially adventurous.
We smiled at the future because we imagined we knew what it might look like. We didn’t. Not even close.
We had no idea that God would entrust us with eight wonderful children. We had no idea that one day our home would be filled with laughter, music, muddy shoes, backpacks, late-night conversations, birthday parties, grandchildren, and more memories than either of us could ever count.
We had no idea how many miles we would travel together. How many churches we would serve. How many prayers we would pray. How many tears we would quietly wipe away.
How many times we would find ourselves standing in hospital rooms, sitting beside grieving families, rejoicing at weddings, celebrating new life, or simply holding one another after another long day.
Looking back now, I realize something. We spent a lot of time making plans. God spent all along writing a far better story.
One of His greatest gifts to me was Jenny.
Most people know her as sweet – and they are absolutely right. She is. But they don’t always get to see the whole picture.
They don’t know how quick she is with a comeback. How delightfully sharp her sense of humor can be. Or that every now and then she can say something so unexpectedly funny that I find myself laughing long after everyone else has moved on.
They don’t always know that after thirty-three years she still has the remarkable ability to roll her eyes at one of my jokes with perfect timing. (It is still my opinion that the audience is occasionally the problem.)
I still love her beautiful red hair.
I still love her smile.
I still love the sparkle in her eyes.
And yes… after all these years, we still enjoy “sporting” together.
Some things simply get better with time.
But if all I said were those things, I would miss what I admire most. I have watched Jenny quietly pour herself into people for decades.
She loves children – not because she has to, but because she genuinely delights in them. She notices widows. She encourages women. She serves our church without seeking attention. She sings God’s praises with sincerity. She opens her Bible faithfully. Again and again, I have watched her choose faithfulness in all the ordinary places where character is truly formed.
The world often celebrates the loud and the impressive. God delights in the faithful.
That is the woman I married.
There is one more thing I want to say – something that perhaps very few people know.
There have been seasons when I have felt weary. Moments when leadership felt heavy. Days when I questioned myself more than I questioned anyone else. And in those moments, God has often strengthened me through Jenny.
Her confidence in me has steadied me. Her affection has comforted me. Her prayers have upheld me. Her quiet faith has reminded me to trust the Lord again. She probably doesn’t even realize how many times God has used her to help me stand when I felt weak.
For that, I will always be grateful.
When I married Jenny, I thought I was choosing the woman who would make my life happier. Thirty-three years later, I realize God was giving me the woman who would help make me more like Christ. That is a far greater gift.
Jenny… Thank you for believing in a young man who had more enthusiasm than wisdom.
Thank you for walking beside me through every season God has ordained. Thank you for laughing with me. Praying with me. Forgiving me. Encouraging me. Serving with me. Growing with me.
Most of all, thank you for loving Christ more than you have ever loved me. That has been one of the greatest blessings of my life.
If someone were to ask me whether I would do it all again – knowing every joy, every hardship, every surprise, every blessing, and every sorrow these thirty-three years would hold…
My answer would be immediate. Without hesitation. Without reservation. Without changing a single thing that brought me to this moment beside you.
I would still choose you.
Thirty-three years ago, I thought I was inviting you to share my life. Looking back, I realize God was inviting both of us into a story that neither of us could have imagined. And what a beautiful story it has been.
Happy Anniversary, my love.
Thank you for thirty-three wonderful years.
By God’s grace, I look forward to whatever chapters He is pleased to write next.
Pastor Clegguart Mitchell 