WCN Special Summer Edition 2026

Volume 27, Issue 3

WisconsinChristianNews.com

Page 19

Taking A Moment To Appreciate Our Soulmate

By William F. Holland, Jr. Summer 2026 Recently, I was sit- ting in my office on a dreary afternoon, tapping on the key-

around the block or going for a drive was exciting simply because we were to- gether. But as the years pass by, the exhila- ration seems to wear off, and when we would come home from a hard day of

how much we need them.

We assume they already know we love them, and they do, but there’s nothing wrong with showing it more than just a Valentine’s Day card.

board and lis- tening to the r a i n

Another thing that we avoid thinking about is that life will not always be like it is now, which is an- other reason to cherish the moments we have to- gether. Life is precious, let’s appreciate each mo- ment. We can also turn to the Bible as a wonderful source of wisdom, as it reminds us of our respon- sibility to honor our vows. We made a pledge as we lit the unity candle, promising that having God at the center of our marriage would bind us together with Him.

blowing against the win- dow. The house is quiet during the day, as my writing routine includes our dog sprawled out on the cool hardwood floor, snoring contentedly around my desk. Then it suddenly dawned on me, June fourth will be the forty- ninth year of our mar- riage. I then thought about our upcoming golden wedding anniver-

work, it became mutually agreeable that a peanut butter sandwich, a candy bar, and watching Wheel of Fortune would be plenty of excitement for the evening. Whatever happened to all the hugging, kissing, and holding hands? Do you re- member how the first years of marriage had three-word phrases like “I love you” and “you are amazing,” and then after a few years, they evolved into “toilet seat down,” “car needs gas,” and “need more Advil?” When we were younger, we didn’t know the meaning of tired, and now we become giddy about an after- noon nap. Nonetheless, it’s a comfort to know that the person who shares our couch with us every night is there be- cause they love us and wouldn’t have it any other way. Showing appreciation to the one we love doesn’t require a special holiday or a fancy restaurant. It’s the little things that prove how we feel. Of all the people in the world we could have set our sights on, the person we are with now is the one we selected. They are the ones who stole our hearts, so there is nothing preventing us from expressing

I heard someone say that marriage is finding that one special person you want to annoy for 50 years — ha! But seriously, we do not need to be a mar- riage counselor to understand the dan- gers of allowing the fires of our passion to grow cold. May we use our own imag- ination to come up with fresh ideas that can fan the embers of our love into a bonfire of affection. I would rather have someone give me a candy bar while telling me how much they love me than to receive elaborate, expensive gifts like a new house, car, or jewelry out of obligation. Character traits like respect, forgiveness, sacrifice, and humility are foundational pillars that strengthen the covenant bond with our spouse. Let’s remember: God is love, and walking in communication with Him is the key to maintaining a lasting relationship with our soulmate. Dr. Holland is an ordained minister, chaplain, teacher, and author. Read more about the Christian life at: BillyHollandMinistries.com

sary in 2027, and how blessed I am to share this milestone with the one I love. I’m confident she feels the same way and definitely deserves a medal for her patience, support, and for embracing the work and shared vision with me for nearly five decades. It’s been an amaz- ing journey so far, and throughout the hard times and the good times, we know we are truly blessed. Familiarity is a slow-growing decep- tion that can cause us to take people for granted, and in the realm of marriage, this is one of the many reasons couples become distant. Those of you who have been married for a while can relate when I say that holidays, birthdays, and even vacations can lose a little of their sparkle and excitement after years of repetition. It’s not the occasion, it’s the awareness of who we are with. Could it be that falling into a predictable routine can cause our love to grow cold as we just go through the motions? When we were dating and then became newly- weds, life was like a romantic, magical fairy tale. Even just taking a walk

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