What "Happily Ever After" Really Means

I don’t know about you, but I love a good romance story.  I’m not talking about sappy Hallmark movies either.  A riveting romance is one with strife, struggles and a tremendous overcoming of some seemingly endless or impossible happenstance.  Some books and movies have it all.  They contain the romantic element, along with action and suspense. Troubles are everywhere, and yet the characters not only survive, but come out stronger in the end.  How I wish that always worked out in real life!

My husband and I just celebrated our forty-first wedding anniversary.  I stuck a wedding picture of us onto facebook, alongside a tired, more recent photo of us.  Unfortunately, I didn’t enlarge it before posting. I only took a close look days later, after many people had already seen it.  I was horrified as I stared at myself.  No kidding - I’m sticking my tongue out.  (If I’m your “friend” on Facebook (under PD Janzen), you’ll probably want to check that out now.  I know I would.  Or - you can just take my word for it.)

Realizing it was too late, I rolled my eyes and thought, “Well, isn’t that typical of me!”  I’ll admit — I’m not always careful enough before I do something. My husband has had to get used to that in the last 41 years.  Poor guy.  

Perhaps this is at least partly why our marriage has had its bumps and bruises.  When they say opposites attract, I’d have to agree.  While I blow hot and cold quite quickly, Brian stays pretty much in the same stable, and much more calm state.  He doesn’t get easily flustered, whereas I do.  I suppose some may consider us atypical in that I’m also not the one who usually finds our lost things.  He is much better at that too. 

Have he and I always have it easy?  Certainly not.  We’ve had many struggles, actually.  Perhaps someday I’ll write about some of them, but for today things are good.  Soon enough something will challenge us again.

Anyone who has been married for longer than a day knows that “happily ever after” is totally bogus.  But, we still smile and enjoy the thought of the fairy tale. 

We were in a restaurant a few days ago and I overheard the server asking two people how many years they’d been together.  I heard the woman answer, “fifty six”.  She was exuberant in her tone - clearly pleased as she smiled at her husband. 

As I glanced their way I knew their lives hadn't been all rainbows and sunshine, but they looked confident and at peace with one another.  

It hit me then: THAT’S the “happily ever after”.  The worked for, don’t-give-up-on-each-other, and LOVE that they’ve chosen to commit to!  They may have fallen head over heels in love at the start, but in between then and now has been all the toil, tears, anger, struggles, joy, fights and making up.  

That’s what “happily ever after” really means.

To everyone who is looking into the eyes on the same face they vowed themselves to years ago: Congratulations!  I'm sure when you look back, you've seen how good God has been to both of you - even when it was hard to see inside some of your past moments.

May God bless you, and keep you determined to continue in your Happily Ever After!

From Ecclesiastes 4:9-10a (NIV) - “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: if either of them falls down, one can help the other up.”

With Love,

Pattie

Prayer requests?  Text 306-621-7544 or email: pdjanz11@gmail.com

NEXT BLOG at the end of July:  includes the draw for a FREE book!  

(Also: my next book is written and has the cover almost done!  Soon I’ll let you know when to expect it!)