My mother gave this dried arrangement to me when we were in our first year of marriage. It has survived five moves over 35 years. A few pieces from a money plant didn’t make it, and at one point my brother gave me something that I added to it. I don’t think I would ever have guessed in that first newlywed year that I’d still have this all these years later. It has been a silent and inanimate witness of feasts and famines, births and deaths, and joys and griefs. Whither we have gone, it has gone.
There’s something quite impressive about that kind of longevity and perseverance. I like to think it symbolizes the longevity and perseverance in our marriage. We two have been through much together and though we are getting older and “drier,” our marriage has endured, strengthened and matured. Young love is giddy, but mature love is steady, which is no less romantic, believe it or not. And we have discovered that the three words “I love you” are no more important in a marriage than the four words “Will you forgive me?”
The author and foundation of our marriage, our love and our forgiveness is Christ. May He continue to teach us how to encourage and sharpen one another in this grand life He has given us.
I probably won’t delete this in the morning.
P.S. I took about 15 photos of this dried arrangement in all sorts of lightings and backgrounds and from different angles. In the end, I liked this one the best – the first one I took. 🙂
Lynniebeemuseoday 
Had no idea you’ve had that for so long!
LikeLiked by 1 person