This picture was taken of my grandparents in October, the month before for my grandfather went to heaven. My parents took them on a road trip to Pagosa Springs to get them out of the house.

My grandparents would have celebrated their 66th anniversary if he would have lived only 3 more days. This is a poem I wrote for them last year. What a wonderful example of a life long commitment.

True Commitment

I hope this is a blessing to everyone who hears
I’ve written this for a couple celebrating a marriage of 65 years
Not just any couple, these two happen to be
They fear the Lord, their names are Ernest and Libby

I prayed and asked the Lord, what He wanted me to say
To show them love and honor on this very special day
How do you show someone honor is the question I had to ask
So I took a trip through scripture and a good look at their past

The Bible tells us that salvation is free, a gift to receive
Placing our faith in Jesus, one only needs to believe
Ernest and Libby accepted this gift, 30 years ago in 1977
This gift transformed them, and secured their place in heaven

Once a part of the heavenly family, a person is righteous in God eyes
The evidence of them walking with God is seen in their fruit filled lives
I must jump back and forth to help you understand
The events of their lives helped ready them for the workings of God’s plan

If you take a look back in time when they were newly married, and young
Libby was home cradling a new baby and Ernest was at war cradling a gun.
It was then that their faith was developing, trusting in God everyday
Would she still be there waiting, would he live through the day
Ernest wore out his rosary, praying constantly in and out of battle
Libby was praying for the father of her baby shaking a rattle

I believe it was at this time that they learned the discipline of prayer
Who doesn’t ask Ernest to pray for them in their time of despair?
The fervent prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective
1st Peter 3 says that God listens when the righteous pray, to put it in perspective
See, in heaven our prayers are in golden bowls a sweet smell of incense
The bowls that hold their prayers for you, must be quite immense.
Ernest prays for people in hospitals anointing their head with oil
I wonder how many of Satan’s plans because of prayer, were foiled.

Ernest made it home from war and with Libby a great journey began
From this faithful marriage Ernest Jr. was first and the next 12 years would span
The birth of Sylvia, Audrey, Andy, Leroy, Michael, and Clyde
Carla, Albert and Monalisa but sadly the youngest would die
Amidst the chaos and hardships of just trying to survive
They taught their children to love and respect God, and their family did thrive
But there was one big problem they trusted in their works to earn eternal life
They had not yet learned the totality of Jesus’ incomparable price

Scripture says that God knew His plans for them, He weaves His will like a thread
The days of Ernest and Libby were ordained before ever a path they did tread
God knows the future and He, had chosen them all along
His plans for them were of hope not harm, because to Him they would belong
As far as they knew they were good, respected in their church and community
They had a few little rebels and patient makers, but doesn’t every family?
Yes, they were doing alright, for the most part everything was going just fine
I wonder if God had a smile, when He chose to shake things up in 1969
One of the kids found Jesus, Libby asked him “when was Jesus ever lost?”
But Andy stood up for his faith, no matter what it cost
And because of God’s grace and His love, for the Sanchez clan
One by one the others accepted their Savior fulfilling the divine plan
Being faithful in prayer, Ernest and Libby prayed for their daughters and sons
And 9 years later as Libby will tell you Jesus the Savior won

Why do I write these things to you, why tell you their story?
Because as a result of their years of faithfulness, God receives Glory.
Dear friends, the things they practiced before, they still do to this day
Not out of duty but out of love for Jesus, they would have it no other way
Those of you who call them parents, grandparents, and great grandparents, listen to me
They have taught us love and faithfulness by example, they have left us a legacy
We honor them with our own lives, when we live according to the Lord’s plan
Leaning not on our own understanding, acknowledging God, and following His commands

So thank you Libby and Ernest, mom and dad, grandma and grandpa, for these 65 years
Being faithful to one another and God, not only in times of joy but also in tears
We honor you today, in a world where 65 years of marriage is rare
And we celebrate with you, even those of us who can’t be there
The many lives you touch are blessed, people like you are few
God’s plan for you isn’t finished yet, He will continue to work through you
You are lights up on a mountain top, shining for all to see
Keep on serving the Lord above, and strengthening your legacy.

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us" Eph 3:20

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him" 1Cor 2:9

"you shall keep His statutes and His commandments which I am giving you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you" Deut 4:40