Together Forever

Time has taken its toll on the couple
as they made their way through life. The cares of raising a family and balancing
the budget, the war and other troubles
had brought wrinkles to their faces, and had turned their hair pure white.

They were old now but they were
happy. Through the years, their love for each other had grown ever more refined and meaningful. She had always felt pride in his accomplishments, and he always found joy in returning home to the woman whom he had chosen as his bride.He knew how much a little present had meant to her, and she knew how to prepare a meal that would please him.

In raising the children, they had
worked perfectly together as a team. He symbolized authority and she symbolized tenderness and compassion. The children loved both parents equally, and love bound them all together into a very close family.

When the children grew up and left
home, the aging couple were alone.
Yet they were never lonely.They continued to share thier joys and their sorrows.They still enjoyed making plans for the future, even though they knew their future on this earth was growing short.

When he died, she was lost because they had been together for so long. In less than a year, she too breathed her last. There was a smile on her lips. She was on her way to join him forever.

They were a couple who understood the real meaning of marriage. In a very true sense they became one in the bond of love. They are together forever, united with God in the joy of eternal life.

共に永遠に

　一組の夫婦が人生を生き抜いた時、歳月は二人の上にそのしるしを残した。子供を育てるための心づかい、家計のやりくり、戦争、そしてその他の苦労が、彼らの額にしわを刻み、髪の毛を真っ白にしてしまった。

　二人はもう老人だが、幸せであった。年月の経つうちに、お互いに対する愛情はますます深まり、純粋になり、意味あるものになった。妻はいつも彼の仕事を誇りに思い、夫はいつも自分が選んだ妻の実家へ帰るのに喜びを感じる。彼はわずかな贈物がどれほど彼女を喜ばせるかを知り、彼女は彼を楽しませる食事はどんなものかを知っていた。

　子供を育てる時、二人はあらゆる点で力を合わせた。彼は権威を持ち、彼女は優しさと思いやりを示してきた。子供たちは両親を愛し、愛はみんなの絆を深め、とても仲の良い家族にした。

　子供たちが成長して家を離れると、夫婦は取り残された。しかし、かれらは決して寂しくはなく、二人は相変わらず喜びも悲しみも分かち合っていた。この世での余生が残り少なくなってきたことを知ってはいたが、それでもなお、未来に対する計画を立てて楽しんでいた。

　彼が死んだ時、彼女は途方にくれた。長い間一緒にいたからである。そして、一年もたたないうちに、彼女も死を迎えた。その唇には微笑みがあった。彼女は永遠に彼と共にあるために旅立ったのである。二人は結婚の本当の意味を知り、そして、愛の絆によって一心同体となっていた。彼らは神のもとで永遠の命の喜びにあずかっているにちがいない。