Grow Old Along With Me

My junior year at BYU I was really into Provo-area singer/songwriters, and I listened to a lot of Peter Breinholt on my silver Discman, walking to and from school each day. One of his songs in particular, Grow Old Along with Me, held a special fascination. It's a John Lennon cover and the words struck me every time I listened.

Grow old along with me The best is yet to be When our time has come We will be as one God bless our love God bless our love

Grow old along with me Two branches of one tree Face the setting sun When the day is done God bless our love God bless our love

Spending our lives together Man and wife together World without end World without end

Grow old along with me Whatever fate decrees We will see it through For our love is true God bless our love God bless our love

Now at twenty years old I had no idea what any of this meant. All I knew was I that I had dated a succession of guys who turned out not to be a good fit, and I wondered if anyone ever would be. And even if I found the "right" man, could we make a go of this marriage thing? But as I listened to the song I came to understand just a tiny bit more what marriage might be one day...creation, acceptance, and unity.

And eighteen years later (today to be exact), I know that marriage is about creating something bigger and grander than Shane and I---as we work and learn together, struggle and celebrate together, we are building something more beautiful than we ever could have imagined. If Shane lives it will go on, if he dies it will go on. World without end, world without end.