"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends."
I Corinthians 13:7,8
(ESV)
Graphic Design by Zach Smith
"The Love Story of Tom & Mary"
"I See a White Rose and I Want to Paint it Black" by Mary Zatkalik
After a vigorous workout at the gym, we head into traffic hoping to complete errands early so we can enjoy a fun Saturday together. We stop at the red light and my husband, Tom, leans over to grab my hand. He brings it to his lips, kisses my fingertips softly, and smiles. I smile back and turn my head in the opposite direction to a van filled with active kids. The female driver, late 30’s maybe, grins widely at me and pats her heart. Maybe she thinks we’re in a new relationship or thinks love is in the air for the elderly too. If she thinks “how nice to keep love alive even after 48 years of marriage,” she would be correct.
A week before my 21st birthday, I meet Tom and his family at my parent’s home. We cram every day thereafter with fun dates until he boards a plane for his next assignment with the U.S. Navy. He reaches into his carry-on and hands me a sprayed black rose in a turquoise bud vase. Days pass and the black rose opens up to a pure white flower with a shadow trim. No words, but I interpret his world felt empty until we met. I’m right. After a month’s correspondence, he asks me to marry him.
Throughout the years, our marriage is tested. To this day, issues sneak up on us to be addressed. It is easy to act out learned behavior from youth along with selfishness and pride. Our different personalities call for understanding. The best decision Tom and I ever make early on is to receive Jesus in our hearts and surrender our marriage to Him. Life throws us scary scenarios over time like job loss, lean finances, health problems, rebellious children, relocation, and family stress.
When I read books like Jentezen Franklin’s "Love Like You’ve Never Been Hurt," I learn that all marriages experience pain. I agree with the author’s statistics that it takes on average of about 35 years in marriage to learn the art of dying to self.
The prophetic black rose in the turquoise bud vase reveals darkness can’t win over God’s plan. I imagine talking to the lady in the van at the stoplight who signs approval to me. I imagine telling her love is a decision. I imagine sharing my Redeemer who offers hope to all relationships. It is our church’s Marriage Encounter commitment that delivers God’s saving grace in our early years and we learn life skills to love, communicate, forgive and live in community. It is practice, openness to God’s Spirit and His Word with resolve to pray together every single day and share with each other what God tells us through Scripture study.
Love is a lot of work. It’s worth it! Tom and I desire harmony, peace and love to flow through us. We decide what our relationship will look like every day. Some days are ordinary; some days jam packed with adventure but some days are romantic, like a kiss at the stoplight."
Bio: Mary lives with her husband, Tom, in central Arizona. She loves the outdoors, to read, cook, and enjoy family gatherings with her two married daughters and their families. Mary and Tom love grand-parenting their two young granddaughters. Mary writes at Pile of Smiles and reviews books at My Calm Corner. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Wow! Congratulations, Tom and Mary, on 48 years of marriage! You are such an inspiration to us all. THANK YOU so much for sharing your beautiful, amazing love story with us! May God bless you both with many more happy, healthy, precious years together serving Him!
Dear readers, we hope you can take a few moments to read our exclusive interview with Mary HERE!
In case you missed them, you can read previous Love Story Posts by clicking these links:
Thank you, Cheryl, for this opportunity to tell our love story and I thank you for all the encouragement, too.
ReplyDeleteYou are so welcome! I am so thankful I was able to coax you out of hibernation! Love you, sweet friend!
DeleteSuch a beautiful love story. No life is perfect but it sure sounds like Tom and Mary have found the recipe for happiness here on this earth. Congratulations on 48 years! We're right behind you at 42 this year.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
Yes, it surely does sound like they have found that evasive recipe! Wow, 48 and 42 years! Such sweet testimonies of God's goodness and how when His love is at the core, the love story is SO enriched! God bless you, Betsy!
DeleteI just Mary and Tom's love story! But I so love Mary too. She, like you Cheryl....such gifted writers! I love, love, love what she quoted from another author: it takes on average of about 35 years in marriage to learn the art of dying to self. WOW...I just loved that. Thanks for sharing their story Cheryl. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
ReplyDeleteI love their story, too, Cincy! Thank you for your sweet words, my friend! Can you imagine that it takes 35 years? Wow. That is a stunning statistic. So many marriages don't even make it to ten years, so they never learn that pivotal lesson. There is nothing like being married long-term to one person and experiencing living a history together and becoming one more and more as the years go by. I am so grateful to share the stories, and it blesses me to know they are blessing you!! Sending hugs and many blessings back your way today!
DeleteTom and Mary’s love story is so beautiful because Christ is the foundation and the center of their marriage. Thanks Cheryl for sharing these lovely love stories!
ReplyDeleteYES! You are so right. With Jesus at the wheel and core of Tom and Mary's marriage, He just shines forth in them so sweetly. I am so grateful to offer the platform for the sharing of such depths of encouragement and wealth of sharing God's love and faithfulness! God bless you, sweet friend!
DeleteForty-eight years??? What a miracle, and a true gift from God! Marriage is strongest when Jesus is the architect. Keep on loving each other, Mary and Tom, and my the Lord fill your lives with blessings!
ReplyDeleteYES!!! 48 years is a huge testimony of God's goodness and faithfulness! I LOVE reading these long-term commitment stories and it is very interesting to see the difference made in lives who are surrendered to Him! I love how you worded it, "when Jesus is the architect." Yes, indeed! LOVE that. God bless you, Martha!
DeleteSuch an incredible love story Mary! Congratulations on 48 years! Thankful for the Lord who has sustained you and Tom throughout all those years. He is the cord that binds. I must look for that book by Jentzeen Franklin, we've got a few more years to go to make it to 35 years! :) Blessings to you and Tom and thank you Cheryl for such a wonderful, inspirational series!
ReplyDeleteAnd, thank you, my sweet, faithful friend, for your support, encouragement, and friendship! God is SO good to have intermingled all of our lives together, and it is such joy to see how He is working and moving in our midst! God bless you abundantly!
DeleteI just love these stories. Thank you for sharing your story Mary.
ReplyDeleteI just love every one of them, too, Regina! It is so neat to see and hear the uniqueness of each one!
DeleteSo glad you invited sister Mary to write again and that she had accepted. I know their love story inspires because Christ is in the center. Beautiful story. God bless.
ReplyDeleteI'm so thankful it coaxed Mary out of hibernation! We need her voice in the blogging community. Thank you for your kind words. God bless you, too!
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