December Bride: A woman who marries when she is significantly older than most brides. 

I was a December bride, just as the definition above describes.

I’ve been married to three husbands.  I’m so grateful for is the oneness and intimacy I have experienced with each one of them. My first marriage to Bill was the longest time span. Forty years. We had three children together–one in heaven–the other two here on earth. It was a challenge.  We entered marriage totally unprepared for the oneness we would one day experience. When our marriage ended with Bill’s death, forty years later, there were  no regrets.

After Bill died, I was shocked at how difficult going through the loss of a spouse was. For two years, I mourned. Thought I’d never love anyone like I loved Bill. But I was wrong. Two years later, I met Blair and learned I could love again. We both came from loss and were overjoyed when we found each other. We didn’t have the struggles we’d had as young twenty-somethings, but in our early sixties, we sailed through the adjustment of marriage easily. We loved. We travelled. Then one night, seventeen months after our wedding, Blair was suddenly taken from me by a brain aneurysm. We didn’t have a chance for last words, it was so sudden. Just like that, it was over. A friend once carelessly said after Blair’s death,  “It probably isn’t as hard this time because you weren’t married so long.” I was stunned. The pain I was experiencing, was stabbing pain. It  wounded me just as much as forty years of marriage had wounded. Death between a married couple is destructive, just like a piece of paper that is ripped, with rough edges.

After working through the pain of loss once again, nearly four years later, I met Jim, the man I would share the end of my days with. Just this past month, we celebrated twelve years. It has been good. To celebrate, we went on a cruise across the Pacific Ocean to the Hawaiian Islands and back.

We enjoyed fifteen days of relaxing, reading, eating, and meeting new people. Jim even was called up on the stage at one of the shows where a mentalist was demonstrating his skills.

On December 7, our anniversary, we were in Pearl Harbor. We enjoyed a champagne breakfast on our balcony on a balmy, sun filled morning. Far different than that day twelve years ago where it was the coldest day on record for that day.

We told each other we wouldn’t exchange gifts since the cruise was our anniversary present to each other, but we couldn’t resist one teensy gift. I gave Jim a bottle of cologne. My gift? I had casually mentioned one of my favorite authors, Jan Karon, was releasing a new book named My Beloved. There, all brightly wrapped, was the book I’d mentioned! When I opened it, I choked away a sob. Jim always listened to my wants and desires and once again, he remembered! I felt so loved by him. I was his beloved.

This “significantly older” woman–this December bride–is beloved by her husband, Jim. That is charming. Wonderful. I am blessed.

But you know what? I am beloved by Someone even greater than my husband, Jim. I am beloved by the Creator of this world. The One who spoke these words, “Let there be light,” and there was light! The One who though he was God, became a baby, born to a young virgin named Mary. She was a humble woman, her husband Joseph, a carpenter. He was born in humble surroundings, worshiped by ordinary shepherds. He was a baby, yet he was also God. I am awestruck by the fact that someone so big could be reduced to something so small and helpless as a newborn baby.

This baby grew into a man. A perfect man. Born to live a perfect, sin-free life to become the perfect sacrifice for us when they put him to death on a Roman cross. Yet, three days later, he rose from the dead. He conquered death and now those who believe in him are promised eternal life. We believers are his beloved!

Just as Mary, in the Christmas story in Luke, treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. I ponder the tremendous gift God has given us in Jesus Christ. I am His beloved. So are you, if you believe and receive him into your life.

“Lord, You are a precious gift to us. We are your beloved. Thank you for coming to earth to redeem us. We thank you. In the name of the Resurrected Jesus, Amen.”

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Enjoy this simple Christmas song:

Don’t forget, if you are in the Vancouver/Portland area, you are invited to the book launch of my newest book, Remembering Hannah on January 15. We would love to have you come and celebrate with us.