Does it seem odd to you that a couple would want their children along on their anniversary trip? Don’t most parents yearn to get away and escape their families?
Not mine.
My folks celebrated their sixty-first wedding anniversary last week, and they’re used to spending huge blocks of time alone together – one of the perks of being their age. But what they wanted this year was to take a road trip (they’ve always loved going places) that included family.
My Real Job
“Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you” (Deuteronomy 5:16 ESV).
My children are grown, and my grandchildren are in their capable hands. Our former foster kids’ paths have taken them away from our home. And like my parents, I’m heading toward elder status. Although I’ve devoted myself to loving and supporting my husband domestically, and to my writing, I still feel the tug that reminds me of God’s mandate to honor my father and my mother.
Some Highlights from our Day:
- An excellent seafood meal, with Mom, as usual, offering Dad her pickle.
- Sharing one dessert, marionberry cobbler, between the four of us – though Dad held his restraint.
- A stroll through a trinket shop.
- Chatting about how they found each other at Pacific Bible College in Portland some sixty-plus years ago.
- Grumbling about having to pay a fee to park so we could walk on the beach, all of us remembering the good old days when we could park just anywhere.
- Mom was uncomfortable walking the uneven path to the beach so we looked for a place to spy the ocean from the car, stopping at a small wayside north of Florence.
It’s getting harder for my folks to travel long distances, so they’ll take a couple short trips in the next few weeks – without family. As for me, I’m encouraged about the promised reward for my investment in my parents. The scripture says my days will be long, and it will go well with me in the land the Lord my God is giving me.
I can live with that.
by Kathy Sheldon Davis
kathysheldondavis.com 
It’s great to see your name here on my blog, Parks family. Thanks for checking in!
This is priceless Kathy, the Parks love all of you!!
Thanks for sharing!!!