On the occasion of David & Paulette's

 25th Wedding Anniversary

On her golden wedding anniversary, an elderly woman revealed the secret of her long and happy marriage. She explained, "On my wedding day, I decided to choose ten of my husband's faults which, for the sake of our marriage, I would overlook." A guest asked her to name some of the faults. She replied, "To tell the truth, I never did get around to listing them. But whenever my husband did something that made me hopping mad, I would say to myself, 'Lucky for him that's one of the ten.'"

    David and Paulette, we're happy to celebrate with you 25 years of marriage. That's a real accomplishment; it requires a great deal of overlooking of faults. A lot of making allowance for the other person's imperfections; and a lot of confession for the times you yourself have been wrong. Ogden Nash had this advice: "To keep your marriage brimming / with love in the loving cup / Whenever you're wrong, admit it / Whenever you're right, shut up!"

    While no doubt you've had your weaknesses and disappointed each other on occasion, we're here today as your extended family because we love you, appreciate you, and want to congratulate you in "sticking it out" together. You're a wonderful couple and we're blessed to be connected to you.

    Paulette, a wave of cultural fresh air swept over the Dow household when the Beaulieu family came onto the scene. I remember being in the receiving line 25 years ago and with my brothers being amazed at how warm, huggy, and kissy these new relatives were! The French Canadian connection has loosened us up in a welcome way, in a tradition you personally have always carried on when greeting us with a warm embrace. You have a generous heart. "Giving" should be your middle name - and that's vital in a marriage, too! We've always looked forward to your ample baking, the extra treat bags, the generous Christmas gifts... You've made us feel welcome in your home (whenever we've been able to get that far). You can be proud of the two fine young adults you've raised; mothering has been close to your heart. For the most part, as the old saying goes, when it comes to a husband and wife, "he makes the living, but she makes the living worthwhile" - and you've done that.

    One might wonder at your marrying an engineer. I'm sure you didn't plan a "second family" of on towards a dozen cute but cranky antique tractors! Maybe you should have married an archaeologist. Agatha Christie married an archaeologist and maintained they're the best husband a woman can have; "the older she gets, the more interested he is in her."

    But an engineer it had to be. A very talented, knowledgeable one who would rise to be of international value in the company. David, we're proud of you and honoured to be related to a man who's served faithfully and been entrusted with important roles in a major corporation. We might even tell you so if we could ever persuade you to drop your wrench and come in from the shed!

    Perhaps an engineer, and a service-man at that, wasn't a bad choice after all. They are, after all, intrigued by matters of maintenance: how to replace worn bearings and pumps, stop oil leaks, get rid of unusual knocking sounds. A marriage develops quite a few of those as it goes on over the years. How can we learn to lean on our partner without wearing them out? How can we keep firing on all cylinders with our timing in tune, when job situations change, we have to move across the country or between countries, when children grow up and leave the nest, and we find ourselves having to adjust to a different stage of life?

    David, you've been far more than an engineer - you haven't forgotten to be a husband to your wife and a dad to your kids. You've taken time to go on vacation. You've helped with moves to college campuses, and adjusted to your children's romantic interests. You've driven countless miles to their sports and extramural events. Thank you for not letting the job sabotage what a nation is really founded on -- the family.

    We've been pleased to catch glimpses that you're not just one-dimensional: your service on church boards; your shared interest in motorcycles with the next generation; the way you loosen up and relax after you've been on holiday a while. We still love to hear your laugh and see your grin. So we'll put up with the change in topic when Uncle Den asks you a question about his latest hydraulic problem at the next feast-gathering around the table.

    We praise God for blessing you both with two wonderful children, who seem more mature, well-rounded, and personable yet adult each time we see them. Lisa and Kevin, we're glad you're part of the family too! If only the miles didn't separate us so much...Perhaps the best tribute to Paulette and David's relationship is how their offspring turned out. We're impressed.

    We pray the Lord will bless you both with another 25 years of happiness - and keep you overlooking those faults by looking to Him, the source of grace. The Archbishop of Canterbury said to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at their wedding, "The ever-living Christ is here to bless you. The nearer you keep Him, the nearer you will be to one another." It's a triangle - the closer you come to Christ, the more intimate and secure your marriage will be.

    Thanks to Chantal and Mark for including us on the guest list here today. Too many couples today forget to include a certain person when they're making up the guest list for their wedding celebrations. There was some time ago a young man - let's call him Joe - who began thinking of marriage. He lived in a little town called Cana. He was nervous about the whole thing, but he knew what he wanted in a wife, and he started looking. He went out of his way to meet new girls, but only one stole his heart - let's call her Betty. He worked his way into a relationship with her, and to his great joy, she returned his affection. They fell in love and one evening he proposed. Their families were thrilled, and word quickly spread among their friends. Joe and Betty couldn't hide their joy as they started planning their wedding. They chose the date. They contacted the pastor. They talked about the flowers and the candles and the ceremony and the food. Then the guest list: who to invite? They started compiling names. Their parents and grandparents and relatives, of course. Their friends. Their work associates. And then Joe said something interesting, or perhaps it was Betty. "What would you think of inviting that carpenter / teacher over in the next town - Jesus? Let's add him to the wedding list just as we'd invite anyone else. Let's send Him a formal invitation to be a part of our marriage." So they did - and Jesus of Nazareth came. Now, when Jesus attends a wedding, you never know what will happen. On this occasion, as John tells us, Jesus performed his first miracle - turning water into wine.

    This young couple was evidently well known to Mary and Jesus. The Lord had undoubtedly sold wood products to people in Cana, for it was near Nazareth. Mary evidently felt responsible to see that things went well at the wedding banquet, so there could have been family connections. At any rate, the young couple didn't hesitate to invite Jesus to their wedding.

    Jesus wants to attend our weddings, live in our homes, and help us build our marriages - 25 years and beyond. He wants to turn water into wine, to turn ordinary relationships into very special ones. The wrong kind of fluid will destroy brake lines; lack of oil will cause bearings to overheat and wreck engines. We need divine lubricant, the oil of mercy and wine that refreshes and heals our soul, in order for our closest relationships not to break down over the long haul. He supplies that grace. Charles Erdman said: "All the signs wrought by our Lord were symbolic of the experiences which would result from faith in Him. It is most significant, therefore, that his first miracle, which was an index to his whole ministry, was so related to the joy of a wedding feast."

    A Christian marriage has the presence of Jesus Christ in it, filling the house, casting His glow on the home, and making the relationships spiritual and special. And that makes all the difference. David and Paulette, may the Lord continue the good work He has begun in you, and keep on making you and your family a blessing to others. Amen!