In February of this year, my husband and I will celebrate our 61^st wedding anniversary, but as strange as it sounds, we’ve only been living together as husband and wife for 59 years. You might be wondering how that could be possible. Well, let me explain.

Just one and a half months after Richard and I were married, he was sent to Germany, where he would be for two years on an army military base. Due to the fact that we did not have the funds for me to join him, I stayed with my parents until Richard returned home two years later, when his tour of duty was over. The years we were apart were difficult, but we kept in touch via letters and a few phone calls. I also sent Richard photos, along with a recorded message that he could play on his tape recorder, and he did the same.

You might be wondering what kept us together during those two years apart, followed by 59 more years of living together and raising two children. I can sum it up in just one word—Commitment. Our first commitment has always been to God and then to each other.

To be fully committed, one must have an unreserved devotion to stand fast or hold in place. A lack of commitment in marriage will break down everything else that is important. If we’re committed to our spouse, we will almost certainly be committed to our children and grandchildren, as we grow older.

There are many other things we should be committed to, such as our job, relationships to friends and family, and any goals we might have. Our first and most important commitment, however, should always be to God. To serve Him, we must be committed to seeking His will for our lives. If we want to fulfill our purpose on earth, then as Christians, we must choose who we will serve and make an effort to remain faithful to the Lord.

My goal as a Christian wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, is to follow Christ and stay committed to doing His will. What commitments have you made this year?

Some people feel that they don’t need to attend church, because they can worship God anywhere. Here is what the Bible says about worshipping with other believers: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves, as the manner of some, but exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (NKJV).

In addition to regular worship in a church setting, we can also worship God when we’re outside enjoying nature, or listening to Christian music. Reading the Bible is another way we can worship God and hear His voice.

I’m thankful for every opportunity to worship my Heavenly Father, in many different settings. How about you? What is your favorite way, or place, to worship God?

Have you ever hurt someone’s feelings and needed to apologize but couldn’t find the right words or weren’t sure how they would respond? Or maybe you went to them to say you were sorry, but they wouldn’t accept your apology. Perhaps, you had a disagreement with someone and they wanted you to apologize but you didn’t feel that you had said or done anything wrong. Did you offer an apology anyway?

Maybe you were the one who was hurt by something someone said or did to offend you. Did you expect an apology from them? If they apologized, did you accept it and continue your relationship, or did you decide that it wasn’t worth the effort and cut them out of your life? What did you do if they never said they were sorry? Can a friendship or family relationship remain strong if apologies are never said when problems arise or hurtful things are said or done?

There are many verses in the Bible that refer to the topic of forgiveness. In the Book of Mark, chapter 11, verse 25 (NKJV), Jesus said: “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.”

In my Prayer Jar Devotional: Forgiveness, I mentioned that according to Webster’s Dictionary, the word forgive means “to grant pardon for or to.” The Greek word translated forgiveness means “to let go,” as when a person doesn’t demand payment for a debt.

Did you know that when we’re unwilling to forgive, it can make us feel physically and spiritually sick? Sadly, some people hold on to their anger towards someone for years, allowing it to control their thoughts and behavior. Forgiveness has the power to heal both parties involved. Emotional and spiritual healing begins when we choose to forgive.

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 5:32 (NKJV).