To My Parents

Mom and Dad,

Thank you.

I honestly do not know where to begin. I am overcome with tears just thinking about your marriage and the legacy it has created. I have watched you both for twenty seven years and I have been taught so much from your mutual commitment to one another. I’m going to try my best to convey what your thirty years together has given me and anyone else who crossed your path.

Mom and Dad, you both are completely bonkers. I have never met any other couple who have as much fun together as you two do. You both are a complete joy to be around. I love watching you interact in public places as you effectively draw strangers out of their shells with your infectious laughter. Everyone around you receives an unspoken invitation to join the party. Thank you for teaching me the importance of making marriage fun.

Twice Dad has been in the hospital fighting for his life and Mom you were faithfully by his side. As he lay there, incoherent and weak you lovingly cared for him as only a wife can. You put on a brave face to encourage Katie and I, but you gave Dad every ounce of your determination and care. I’m convinced Dad won those fights because of you. You were the anchor holding him steady and the lighthouse that brought him home. Thank you for showing me that no matter how scary the situation to always stand firm and brave for the one you love.

To be honest, you guys have not always been the best when it comes to fighting. There was a time when I was very concerned for your marriage. When things reached its darkest point you were not willing to call it quits, instead you sought out a counselor. The change was not instant, it took a lot of hard work and time but you guys were able to come together and rewrite your marriage. Thank you Mom and Dad for teaching me that marriage is not something you give up on but worth fighting for.

Thank you for choosing to become parents. Katie and I owe you so much for the blood, sweat, tears, time, and effort you put in to raising us. Parenting is not for the faint of heart and you both sacrificed so much to bring us up. You were there for us when we were exhausting toddlers, infuriating children, insecure middle schoolers, and emotional teenagers. You never allowed us to play one of you off the other but were instead a team that stood firm together.

Dad you have worked so hard to support your family. Even when times were tight you did what was needed to take care of us, sometimes at the expense of your health. Mom God bless you for being a stay at home mom and homeschooling me. I am sorry I was such a nightmare when it came to school, but you never gave up on me. Thank you both for teaching me to persevere when things do not come easy.

It has been a complete and utter joy to watch both of you become grandparents. Dad you completely spoil my kids and have unending patience with them. Mom you have never been one who enjoys small children so it has blessed me to see how fiercely you love Bryce and Eden. They adore both of you and I know they will be better people because you are a part of their lives. Thank you for being such supportive and involved grandparents.

Above all else your marriage has had the greatest impact in your ministry. For as long as I can remember you have been in ministry side by side. From youth ministry to the children’s home and back again you have always ministered together. Dad you have endured difficult churches, harsh criticism, and heart wrenching conflicts because of your deep love of teenagers and your aching desire for them to know Christ. Mom you have stood by Dad as his right hand as an ally, a resource, a supporter, a defender, and as wise counsel. So many students have come to know and love the Lord because of your team work. I have watched you over the years and you both taught me how to love people because of your faithfulness to show Christ to the lost. Thank you for teaching me how marriage when done right is a ministry.

All of this barely skims the surface of what your thirty years together has brought the world. Thank you for your faithfulness to the Lord and to each other. You have been an amazing example for me to learn from and I pray that the Lord blesses you with another thirty years of ministry.