Not all love lasts, but lasting love is worth celebrating

This weekend my sisters and I celebrated our parent's 60th wedding anniversary. Such an incredible milestone!

I had to laugh at my Dad's speech on "how to stay married". In a nutshell - know that when you fight about something, you still love each other. That's the part that stays the same. 

My parents have always role-modelled this. There was always love in our house growing up (we would all die of embarrassment as teenagers when my Dad would lean my Mum backwards in that 1960's swoon and kiss her in the kitchen).

There were also lots of disagreements and fights. Sometimes about money (usually because they had 3 kids and a mortgage and my Mum had overspent on the credit card). Sometimes about silly things (my Dad would go crazy if there was no soap left in the shower, or if he couldn't get through on the telephone line - a time well before mobiles). 

Occasionally about bigger things (what's best for their ageing parents? Should my mum go back to work? What to do in this particular parenting challenge?)

Through it all though - there has always love. I think their example and their lives have taught me some powerful lessons about love: 

- Love is a daily joy and commitment 
- Love holds you together through fights and differences
- Love grows with you both.
- "I love you" is always something you should say.
- Love is too precious to take for granted.
 
While my husband and I are still "early days" (after all we have only been married for 25 years!) there is beauty in seeing love that has lasted for 60 years, and sustained both my parents through all their ups and downs, trials and tribulations, hopes and joys.

I know not all love lasts. But when it does - it truly is worth celebrating