This is a photograph taken on my wedding day in 2004. Thus Hayley and I will be celebrating our fifth anniversary on 11th June this year, co-incidentaly the feast of S. Barnabas the Apostle. A lovely day for us both and five years seems significant….but it pales into insignificance besides Frank & Anita Milford, whom I was touched to read about today. For they are now Britain’s oldest living married couple. Both 101 this year, they met at a dance in 1926, tied the knot in 1928 and currently live together as man and wife at a nursing home in Devon!! So what wisdom do Frank and Anita have to offer me and all others with far less miles on the marital clock?
With great wisdom the couple insist that there is no magic secret to a successful marriage- just give and take. “You fall out and you fall in, but you keep going,” said Mr Milford- underlining in simple words what commitment is really all about. I would add that this ability to ‘just keep on, keeping on’ is as vital to faith as marriage. We must all discover afresh the ability to forgive, to battle through the tough spots, and savour the good times- or to put it more succintly; ‘fall out, fall in but keep going’ as was explained by our heroes of the day. Here is a photograph of them both:
The couple have also built up marital success by understanding the need for family time, having spoken of how important their two children and four grandchildren are to them. Finally this ancient couple are not scared of addressing the rot. Mrs. Milford says, ‘I don’t believe people who say they’ve never had an angry word. We have often argued, everyone does and it clears the air,”. Having a secure enough relationship to speak honestly and face problems is vital for the longevity of all our relationships, with God, with family and with friends. So well done the Milfords for underlining this key quality too.
Let us thank God today for this wonderful couple and for the message of hope, commitment and love which it sends out to younger people everywhere. Soceity please take note: marriage can last, it can work and it can bring joy to man and wife- it is a supremely beautiful thing and worth celebrating in every way. And, as ever, let us also pray for those less fortunate than the Milfords, whose marriages have not worked or for whom it was never an option.
