More Messages in a Bottle

Love hopes

                that being 56 will be as good as 16.

                that the stormy seasons will pass

                                and the stifling, humid ones

                                and the frigid, silent ones, too.

                that our relationship will adapt

                                as you change

                                as I change

                                as our kids grow up

                                as our parents grow old.

                that we’ll see more of the world together.

                that we’ll see more of God together.

                that we’ll see more of our Creator in one another.

                that we’ll be better when we’re older.

The messages

Love perseveres

                when coming home is hard.

                when giving up seems easy.

                when sleeping single sounds serene.

Love perseveres

                when we’re not “us.”

                when I’m nothing like the girl you fell for

                        or the one you married

or the one you dated last week.

We persevered

                when families interfered.

                when miles separated us.

                when God changed us.

                when we were broke.

                when I was broken.

                when we dreamed different dreams.