Half a Century 7/23/2023

By: Jennifer Richardson Holt

To celebrate my parents’ 50^th anniversary my daughter said that I should say, “Joe and Linda have been married for a while now.  Let’s all be proud for them and sing them a song gracefully.”  While I appreciate her desire for simplicity, I don’t think I’ll have us all do that.  But I did think that perhaps some of you might like to hear a few tales about the lovely couple. I felt that some of you might be curious to know just how this half century union came to be between the boy from the peanut fields of south Alabama and the girl from the foothills of North Alabama.

It all began when one of Dad’s friends from college came to preach a revival at my mom’s church.  Dad was preaching at a church about 40 minutes away, so he came to hear his friend. Well, my mom insisted it wasn’t a “love at first sight” type of thing.  However, I am not sure that she is entirely accurate because interestingly, Dad became a sudden regular attendee of Mom’s church.  He kept pastoring at his but when he could come to any service at Mom’s church, he did.  So, I am not entirely certain if Mom’s assessment is entirely accurate.  Mom told me her Pastor at the time tried to matchmake the two of them which Mom was diametrically opposed to. It didn’t seem to be because she wasn’t interested but she would have nothing being forced. 

Despite things that could have hindered, after a Valentine’s Banquet at the church, Dad asked if he could drive Mom home, I think we all can raise a brow and give a smirk at that.  Their first date was on Dad’s birthday which is March 15^th. Some of you may know that it is also known as the Ides of March and that day lived up to its name. They had planned a picnic and it was pouring. Mom said everywhere they went to try to eat was completely flooded. They eventually ended up at a pavilion at Noccalula Falls eating, talking and watching the rain. They had BLT’s that Mom had made. Dad was sure to point out that the tomatoes had made the bread soggy.  Knowing him though, I guarantee that his sandwich was not left uneaten.  She said they sat and watched the rain and talked.

Seems like the start of something with potential perhaps? Well, you have no idea.  Because on April 5^th, yes, that’s right, the first date was March 15^th, and on April 5^th, Dad asked Mom to marry him.  And she, and I quote her, “said yes like an idiot.”  They were married on July 27^th and fifty years later here we are.

Mom told me that Dad bought a new sportcoat to get married in and apparently someone had to snip the tags off of it before he walked down the aisle with the price dangling.

Mom told me about when she was visiting Dad’s family right after they married, and she was cooking with his mom. His mom asked her to hand her the spider out of the bottom drawer of the stove.  Mom was utterly confused and mildly alarmed as to why a spider was used in cooking since she didn’t know that is what Dad’s mom called a skillet.

I heard about the time a few years after they were married, and mom had just cooked their last cans of food. The church Dad was pastoring wasn’t paying him anything. Money was tight and as of that meal, the food was gone. She said it’s strange because both she and Dad were almost joyful because they knew the God would provide. They could have asked either of their families for help and it would have been given but they wanted to trust and see.  Not long after there was a knock on the door and one of my dad’s coworkers had slaughtered a cow and just felt inspired to bring mom and dad steak and even some cash, just because.

There was the time that Dad was taking mom home to meet his family for the first time and despite Mom’s urgings that he should stop and get gas, he insisted he could make it. And of course, about 4 miles from his home they run out of gas and have to flag someone down to give them a ride to my dad’s family. Mom was mortified though it’s good to know that Dad is nothing if not consistent in disregarding suggestions.

I learned that it was when they lived in Ft. Payne that a brief day trip up into the Appalachians was what let them both begin a love affair with the mountains that continues to this day.  This affection has been passed down two generations now.

Speaking of me, it was March 1^st of 1981 that this already wonderful couple became amazing parents.  Mom insisted I talk about the joy they felt that day that they had never known before. I can speak with absolute certainty that they are some of the best parents that a kid could have.  Wisdom and guidance mixed with a generous helping of fun and lightheartedness make for parents that I am now happy to call some of my best friends.

Then in August of 2013 I got to witness them gain a son and see them become some of the most welcoming and caring in-laws that may be in existence. My husband has embraced them like they are his own because they have overwhelmingly done as much for him.  He counts them as some of our best friends as well and I dare say that isn’t something that just any fellow can say about his in-laws.

Of course, the cream on top was to watch them in June of 2016 become grandparents. If you have not had the privilege of witnessing my parents in full on grandparent mode, then you are missing a thing of beauty.  That little girl has them wrapped around her finger to the point that I am certain is far beyond the healthy limits.

I had asked Mom for stories and history so I could write something for their anniversary, but the thing is, everything she told was service.   Sure, there were the funny stories and even some gut-wrenching tales but every bit of each story, related back to service. They were serving their churches they pastored or even just attended. They serve their friends and their families. They serve God with a fervor that would impress even the most revered Biblical figure.  Their whole lives have been about everyone else.  Their entire half century together has been one that has been a gift to all those around them. Yes, it is a story of love but far more than that it is a story of commitment and sacrifice.  They love each other but it spills out as they love others and their Lord extravagantly.  I could not possibly be more fortunate to have been able to witness 42 years of this extraordinary union that is a wellspring of wisdom, love, service and devotion that spills out upon everyone around it.  I am so proud to say that my parents are the epitome of what marriage goals should be. If I can live up to even a fraction of their example, I will have exceeded far beyond any goal I could have set.