It's a Wonderful Life

This Valentine's Day I want to write a few words about my sweet wife. I am so blessed and humbled that God brought Jan Nichols into my life in 1973.  We first met when my family moved from Alabama to Louisiana and our families attended the same church.  Jan's family had moved there from Arkansas.  God had to move two entire families across state lines in order to get us together.  At least that is way I see it.  I'm so glad He did.

A year after first meeting, Jan and I began to date.  Several weeks into our dating relationship I decided to break it off.  I guess I was getting nervous about how serious we were getting.  It only took a couple of days for me to realize that I had made a major mistake.  I asked if we could resume our relationship and she graciously agreed.  Three years later, after a short engagement, we were married.  December 17, 1977 was certainly a life-changing day for us.  In an act of solemn worship we pledged to love, cherish and honor one another in a lifetime of marriage.  The two became one and we began a most amazing journey together. 

During the first seven years of our marriage we lived in nine different houses/apartments in five different cities.   During those years I finished college and seminary.  We served as missionaries in upstate New York, and worked in four different churches.  We also became parents of a precious little girl.  In the coming years we would serve for over seven years in a great church in Mississippi and would see the birth of our other two daughters.  Ultimately, God moved us to the wonderful Highland Drive Baptist Church family.

After my commitment to Christ and His Kingdom, nothing takes higher priority in my life than my wife.  She is my soul-mate, partner, friend and confidante.   Her words of encouragement, actions of support, and incredible love have not only sustained me, but have propelled me through life. 

We live in a modest house.  We wear modest clothing.  We have more debt than money.  We have our share of struggles.  But mine is, indeed, a wonderful life.  This is true primarily because of my sweet wife.  I cannot imagine life without her.  She is the constant in my life. 

As I think about how far we have come, I remember the early days, as two starry-eyed youngsters fell in love.  I pulled up an old photograph from those days and at the risk of a few chuckles, I thought I would share it.  To most, it will simply look like a funny picture taken at a high school prom in 1975.  But to me . . . it is a part of a very special and Wonderful Life.