It’s been about thirty-five years. Things have changed during that time. When I first started officiating weddings “back in the day,” most couples started married life much younger than today. Many were fresh out of high school (one couple still in high school, but that’s another story!). The setting was rural and getting married quickly and settling down was the thing to do. They were wide-eyed, green, wet behind the ears and…“in love.” That’s all that seemed to matter. No matter what their financial situation, kids soon followed.

Today, couples are a little older as they begin their marital state of blissfulness; they at least have some college education and/or they’ve been on their own a few years — mid twenties to early thirties. They are not necessarily in a hurry to get married or to have kids.

One thing hasn’t changed: I still insist on pre-marital counseling. Granted, it’s no guarantee of success, but of all the weddings that I’ve officiated; only one (that I know of) has ended in divorce. And there have been dozens of weddings! I haven’t kept count, but I’ve heard quite a few “I do’s” and “I will’s.”

There have been some “firsts” along the way as well. Since I’ve been around for a while, one of the first couples I married hunted me down several years ago and asked me to perform a special “25th wedding re-affirmation of their vows” ceremony. The bride was still able to fit into her unaltered wedding gown! It was a delight to do…but it had a sad ending. In the providence of God, within a year following the ceremony, her husband called to tell me that his wife went home to be with the Lord due to cancer. She missed the birth of her first grandchild.

Another first happened just the other day. I received an email “thank you” for the counseling session that we had just finished together. Actually, this was a two-part first. When I first started ministry, “e-“ anything didn’t exist — personal computers didn’t even exist! So to receive an email “thank you” was special enough. But to receive one in the midst of the five established sessions was, well, special. It helped renew my faith in this current generation of young adults. Why? Because I have observed far too many times that this generation has forgotten or ignored the concept of expressing “thank you.” It’s a shame really. Of all the post WWII generations, this one has the most but seems to appreciate it the least. For Christians to be ungrateful is even more grievous. As Paul said, “In everything give thanks.” It’s just nice to hear “thank you” once in a while.

Pastor Megilligan