Forty years ago on Easter Sunday evening, I read the following poem to the young lady I was about to ask to marry me:
I Need a Hand
By Gregory Henderson
A hand to touch, to hold, to bend, to fold
A hand to shyly reach for and to learn of love with
A hand to hold within my own two hands.
A hand to live and share with, to grow and learn with
A hand to clasp on walks in woods, to study with and put a ring on
A hand to seek God’s will with and to start a new life together.
A hand to join with mine in prayer and Bible study
A hand to cry with and rejoice with
A hand to build a home with, to protect and hold a tiny hand with
And to lead our children to the Lord.
A hand to rest with, and caress, to reminisce with, and rejoice
A hand to love our grandchildren, to praise God for all circumstances
A hand to share the wisdom of our life
A hand to love yet more with every year.
Thankfully that young lady, Leeta Hale, accepted my proposal and became Mrs. Leeta Christie a few months later. We celebrate our fortieth wedding anniversary this coming Sunday, August 25, 2019.
Proverbs 18:22 teaches: “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.” Proverbs 19:14 adds: “Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.”
I have experienced the truths of those Scripture verses in fullest measure in the wonderful life partner God has blessed me with. When I first married Leeta I was aware of and attracted by a number of her delightful, positive characteristics and qualities. But I had no way of knowing then that I comprehended only a fraction of her attractive, commendable traits which would come to be manifested through the many years and experiences of life we would share together. With each passing year, I continue to learn more about my wife and to more fully appreciate her.
In addition to praising God for the unspeakable blessing of the cherished wife he has given me, I praise Him for the innumerable blessings He has permitted us to share together in life:
- A personal, growing, sustaining relationship with Him
- Our three lovely daughters, two quality sons-in-law and one (so far) darling granddaughter
- Many faithful, supportive friends and family members
- The privilege of carrying out meaningful, fulfilling ministry and work
- Health and strength
- This list could go on and on!
However many more years the Lord grants us together as husband and wife, may He help us to:
- Love and appreciate Him most of all
- Appropriately cherish and honor each other
- Be appropriately grateful for all our other blessings in life
- Faithfully, earnestly serve Christ and people
- Show forth Jesus to others, as individuals and as a couple
So enable us, blessed Holy Spirit of Christ!
# # #
In special celebration of our fortieth wedding anniversary, Leeta and I recently took our first-ever overseas trip, to Scotland. (If you care to, you may see a preview of that trip in my August 9, 2019 Perspective) Thanks to everyone who prayed for the Lord’s manifold blessings on all aspects of our trip; we certainly experienced those. As we had anticipated, we found Scotland to be a land rich in God’s natural created beauty, significant Christian history and distinctive cultural aspects. We also met many friendly, helpful people and a number of faithful, fervent Christians. God willing, in future Perspectives I will plan to share a few of the worthwhile highlights from that trip.
Copyright 2019 by Vance E. Christie
You are truly blessed to have experienced each line of the poem together. Your marriage of 3 strands is a wonderful example to us all. Thank you, too, for being a godly shepherd to our congregation. We love you both and wish God’s richest blessings in the coming years.
Vance and Leeta,
Happy 40th wedding anniversary! It is so exciting to read your posts when you send them out. As soon as one comes, I read it right away! How well I remember having you in my class at Grace, Vance. I also remember going to Camp Clear Lake and speaking at a men and boys retreat and had the pleasure of meeting your dad.
How exciting it is to know that God has used your ministry of writing in such a dynamic manner. May our great God continue to shower you with His grace and mercy as well as giving you many more years of marriage! Again, a very Happy Anniversary.
God’s best to you!
Your old Grace professor, Ken Taylor
A note to congratulate you and your wife on your 40 years together. May God bless you with many more. My beloved husband of 60 years went home to be with our Lord a year and a half ago. I fully understand the deep emotion expressed in your poem to your wife. It is beautiful and brought me to tears. Thank you for sharing it.
I Jesus love,
Alice Williams
I am so happy for you two. Vance, thank you for your site. I finished you book on Andrew Murray, and am currently reading his 4 months devotional on prayer. Very helpful.