Proverbs 18:22 “He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.”
On Saturday July 3rd, it was 50 years ago that I married Linda Fordyce.
I asked her the other day if she wanted to sign up for another 50 years and she told me she would get back to me on that (no, I’m just kidding…)
To celebrate that marvelous milestone in our relationship, I booked a room at the Inn at the Forks, had supper at Smith’s Restaurant at the Forks and enjoyed a delicious breakfast at Cora’s on Waverly. Below is a picture of the special dessert that they prepared for us, when we told them we were celebrating our 50th.)
Those of you who know her personally would agree with me when I say that my wife Linda is one amazing woman. I won the lottery when she said yes to my marriage proposal on Dec. 27, 1970.
After our wedding on July 3, 1971, we moved into a house on 2nd Avenue North in Stonewall and I began my role as the pastor (at age 22) of a new church in town (then called Stonewall Baptist Church; now New Life Church.)
Since then, we have worked together as pastor and wife, first in Stonewall for 45 years and most recently as a part time Interim Pastor in Teulon. I can honestly say that she has been the single most important human factor in the success of my ministry. As someone has put it, “Behind every successful man stands a surprised mother-in-law” – no, wait, I got that wrong: “Behind every successful man stands a great woman.”
She has been my single greatest source of inspiration and support. Through thick and thin, she has stood by my side and I am sure that if I had not had her with me, a much, much different story would have been told. More than once, I was ready to throw the towel in on pastoral ministry, but she was always there beside me, encouraging me on.
Of her, I can join with the man in the Bible, who as a husband said of his wife, “Many women have done wonderful things, but you’ve outclassed them all!” Proverbs 31:29.
Thanks Linda. I love you forever.
