Holding Hands ... to the End!

A week ago today, I had the wonderful privilege of attending a beautiful wedding of my cousin's daughter in Zionsville, Indiana. You can see by the picture above that the Newlyweds (Kelli and Travis) are so in love and very excited about their new life together as husband and wife. It was truly a day of celebration!

"I once heard someone ask, 'Is there anything more beautiful in life than a young girl clasping a young man's hand as they walk together with pure hearts in the path of marriage?' My answer is yes; there is a more beautiful thing. It is the picture of an old man and an old woman finishing their journey together on that path. Their hands are gnarled but still clasped. Their face are seamed but still radiant. Their hearts are physically bowed and tired but still strong with love and devotion for one another. YES...there is something more beautiful in life than young love - and that is old love." - Dennis Rainey

Reminds me of a real life story of a couple in their 90's from Iowa who had been married for 72 years and recently died after being in a car accident! Gordon and Norma Yeager got married on May 26th, 1939. They'd been holding hands ever since and were definitely considered very old-fashioned. They believed in marriage 'til death do you part. On October 12, 2011, they were in a car accident and were brought in to the same ICU hospital room. They were kept together and were holding hands but not really responsive. Gordon died at 3:38pm surrounded by family.

"It was really strange, they were holding hands, and dad stopped breathing but I couldn't figure out what was going on because the heart monitor was still going," said Dennis Yeager. "But we were like, he isn't breathing. How does he still have a heart beat? The nurse checked and said that's because they were holding hands and it's going through them. Her heart was beating through him and the monitor was picking it up. They never liked being apart." 70 minutes later, Norma died at 4:48pm.

Lots of couples start the marriage race...but few finish well. The Yeagers are a wonderful example for all of us (young and old married couples) to keep loving, honoring, cherishing, and forsaking all others ... all the way to the finish line!

And as my cousin (the father of the bride) shared with his daughter, Kelli, and her groom, Travis, on their wedding day a week ago..."if you really want to live happily ever after...then keep Christ at the center!"