OC Bereans

Today marks what would have been the 72nd wedding anniversary of Hal & Evie.

Married eight days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he was in the Army Signal Corps, about to ship out to the “Pacific Theater.” She worked at Douglas Aircraft as a “Rosie the Riveter.” They had been high school sweethearts in northern Minnesota, until she gave up on him and headed West to pursue her future.

He chased her all the way to California, and like a lot of young couples in that era, she was underage by California marriage standards, so they drove out to Las Vegas, met another couple (total strangers), stood up as witnesses for each other, and got hitched!

Within the first decade of their marriage, first a son, then a daughter were born. Then just before their second son was born (yours truly), they made a life-changing decision.

Much like the decision that God placed before Moses and the nation of Israel prior to entering the Promised Land …

“So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him”  – Deuteronomy 30:19-20

… Hal & Evie chose life! They intentionally placed their faith and trust in God … on His terms … through the shed blood of Jesus, and were sealed and indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

Evie has been gone now for more than six years … enjoying her “eternal reward” with her Heavenly Father, but before her death, she and Hal had celebrated 65 years of marriage! Hal is still alive and active … still driving his van at age 93! … and just celebrated the marriage of his youngest grandchild a week ago.

They had come from families that were God-honoring (more or less), but not necessarily Jesus-trusting. Their decision changed the life-course of generations to come … and still coming! … the newest great-grandson is only seven months old.

The legacy of their decision to follow Jesus and their God-honoring marriage lives on through their descendants who have been engaged in varying walks of life …

… school teachers, administrators & college professors, musicians, business owners, pastors, missionaries, chaplains, police officers, etc.

“Listen, O my people, to my instruction; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not conceal them from their children, but tell to the generations to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wondrous works that He has done.”  – Psalm 78:1-4

What a legacy! … What a tribute to God’s grace and mercy!

Shalom!

~ tr