43 years and counting

This story is based on the events of July 10, 1982 when Bill and I were married. And, of course that was a very important day. But the beginning, as we knew it, was long before that day in February and June of 1959 when we were born. Little did we know that the God of the universe had created us for each other and was forming our lives and hearts to be prepared for July 10, 1982 and the years that would follow. 

Bill and I both grew up in remarkable homes. I had my parents and two sisters. He had his parents and several other “only” children in his community as brothers. God used our families to teach us and to shape us into young adults. 

In the summer of 1980, I was home in Bowling Green after my first year of pharmacy school and was struggling with some things regarding my relationship with a young man I had been dating for a couple of years. He was a great guy. But somehow we just couldn’t get on the same page spiritually. I was mature enough to know that we would never make it that way. But I had no idea what to do about it. 

Then Bill Fort walked into my upside down world and turned it right side up! On our very first date he blessed our meal together and then prayed with me before I went home. No one I had dated had ever done that before. You might say that a light bulb instantly went on over my head. 

It took a few weeks for me to get my act together, but with God’s direction and Bill’s patience (no pun intended), I came out on the other side ready to tackle year two of pharmacy school and to see where this new relationship would go. 

Long distance wasn’t easy. I was at UK and he was at WKU. We managed to navigate the difficulties, though, and soon realized that marriage was in our future. Here’s something interesting I told the Lord one day. “Lord, you may have prepared Bill for the ministry but you have NOT made me to be a pastor’s wife!”

In many ways I could not have made a truer statement. Bill was, indeed, going to be a tremendous pastor as many of you can attest. But although many will say that there was nothing typical or traditional about my life as the wife of this pastor, no one can quibble with the fact that my love for him and for the Lord has been strong and determined. Bill encouraged me to be myself as I served in our churches and that is what I have done. He gave me permission to seek and carry out God’s will in our ministry together. He encouraged me to do whatever pleased the Lord and not people. 

No one could have loved me more than that. 

So today, 43 years after we said our vows, we are still in love. We are still each others’ biggest fans. We are still walking hand in hand through this life and look forward to what God has planned for us tomorrow. 

Bill brought them home to me last night. He’s so sweet!

LORD, thank you for making Bill and me individually and collectively. You have created us to be your instruments. And we love you for it.