Christmas Eve Anniversary

55 years ago today,

my mama and daddy, 

stood

 (and knelt)

 before God,

their families,

and all present 

on a Monday Christmas Eve Day

and made the commitment and took vows

to God and to each other to be

husband and wife for the rest of their lives.

It was a sacred day.

They were married for 54 years, 

3 months,

1 week,

and 5 days.

At 8:16 a.m.

on Wednesday, April 5, 2017

my daddy slipped peacefully away

to his Jesus

and to all of his treasures stored up in Heaven

and to hear our God say,

"Well done, thy good and faithful servant,"

My mother was left here on earth

to miss, mourn, and grieve him.

And to try and heal from the jagged wounds

that remain on, in, and all around

the heart of

a surviving spouse.

That "until death do you part" vow

is the hardest one to live through.

Today is  

Christmas Eve 2017.

It is a happy day as we anxiously

prepare and await

to celebrate Christ's birth 

and to finish wrapping all of the gifts

to place under the tree.

But, if you have a moment today,

please say a prayer or two for my mama

as she crossses this anniversary day 

for the first time as a widow.

Please pray that she will mostly remember the good memories.

The ones from that sacred day 

55 years ago 

when she walked into that little church as my daddy's bride

and walked out as his wife.