Last night, Rob and I celebrated something truly special—our 47th wedding anniversary. Forty-seven years! It feels like a lifetime, yet at the same time, I can still remember the day we stood together in Mount Gambier, South Australia, both just 18 years old, promising forever. Back then, we had no idea what lay ahead, no clue about the adventure that is marriage. But what an adventure it has been.
A Love of Opposites
We’ve always been opposites in so many ways. Even last night at dinner, that was still clear—Rob had steak, I had pasta. He enjoyed a glass of red wine, while I sipped on a white. If he has a beer, I’d have a Baileys. And yet, despite our differences, we’ve spent nearly five decades choosing each other, over and over again.
That’s what love is, isn’t it? It’s not about finding someone who is exactly like you, but someone who complements you, challenges you, and walks beside you through it all.
The Moment Everything Changed
We didn’t start our marriage with faith at the centre, but at 24, we made the decision to follow Christ together. That’s when we truly learned what it meant to become one. The Bible says, *“And the two shall become one,”* and while that sounds beautiful, it’s not always easy—especially when you’re still so different!
For the first six years of marriage, we lived like the world around us, chasing what we thought life was meant to be. But when we turned toward God, everything changed. It wasn’t just about what we wanted anymore—it was about something bigger, something eternal. Looking back now, I can say with certainty: it was the best decision we ever made.
Love is more than just the easy moments. It’s about learning, growing, and sometimes unlearning the things that hold you back. The world tells us how we should live, what love should look like, but we found something deeper, something more fulfilling.
A Love That Lasts
Marriage isn’t just made up of grand, romantic moments. It’s built in the quiet or busy mornings, the late-night talks, the laughter over silly things, and the comfort of knowing that no matter what, you have someone by your side.
Over the years, we’ve had busy years and quiet ones, years of abundance and years of struggle, times of adventure and times of waiting. And yet, through it all, our love has remained.
Would I Change Anything?
People often say, “I wouldn’t change a thing to be where I am today.”
But if I’m being honest? I would change a few things. I would have made wiser choices, avoided some mistakes. You know, even just one small thing I’d even do differently would be to have gone on more dates with my husband! In some stupid way I thought it was saving money for our busy family. It doesn’t cost much to have a nice drink, cheese and crackers down by the creek. But if changing anything meant not being here, celebrating 47 years with Rob, I’d leave it all as it is.
Because last night, as we clinked our glasses together and looked back on all these years, I knew one thing for certain—choosing to love each other every single day was the best decision we ever made. And it is a choice, and it is a decision everyday, not once a week, or once a year, a month, or way back at the altar.
Here’s to love, to faith, and to the many more years ahead.