By Sabrina Burkiewicz
June 21st would have been my grandparents 70th anniversary. My grandma wanted to make an announcement because she wanted to inspire others with the story of their marriage. Here is that story:
Noah and Pauline were married more than 69 years. Their dream was to be married for 70 years but in February, Jesus called Noah home, just a few months shy of a 70 year marriage on June 21, 2015. They believed marriage was created by God for men and women and sought to honor this commitment daily. Marriage is one of the few commitments we make for a lifetime. How do you stay with the same person for 70 years and still be in love? Here is their advice.
Through 60 years of hard work on their farm, and raising two children, they worked side by side, as a team and encouraged one another through it all. The words, “I love you,” never stopped slipping from their mouths. They started each day together with prayer and ended it with thanksgiving. When Noah worked long hours in the fields, Pauline made sure his meals reached him wherever he was. At every holiday, Noah was sure to present Pauline with a sweet card adding his own handwritten touches. Noah and Pauline were known by most as the people who knew how to pray. They prayed together every day. Life brought its fair share of turmoil and heartbreak through the years but their faith in God, and each other never wavered. Even in the nursing home, they watched over one another diligently until one evening, the gates of heaven opened and parted them.
Life is fragile, and disappears in the whisper of a moment. Even though it was by all accounts 70 years together, it ended softly and quietly. The lesson from their lives is this-don’t take your marriage for granted that it will always be there. Love your spouse today, like there will be no tomorrow.
Sabrina Burkiewicz currently works in Marketing at the Illinois Farm Bureau and is a graduate student at Illinois State University. Sabrina spent nearly a decade at Home Sweet Home Ministries where she worked to create awareness about the invisible people in our community. Sabrina is an avid reader, enjoys baking, gardening, skiing and snorkeling with her husband Chris. Sabrina and Chris live in Bloomington where they attend the Evangelical Free Church.
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