07/28/2025
💍 61 Years, One Husband, and a Whole Lot of Grace: Marriage Wisdom from the Long Road
By Janice Campbell | Wander Woman
Welcome, friends. If you're new here — I’m so glad you’ve found your way to my little corner of the internet. And if you’ve been following my journey, thank you for walking beside me as I reflect on the roads I’ve traveled (literally and figuratively).
Today’s story? A look back at one of life’s greatest adventures — marriage.
After 61 years with the same man, I’ve earned a few stripes and a few smile lines. Here’s the (sometimes bumpy) journey that brought us here… and seven pieces of wisdom I’ve picked up along the way.
☀️ It All Started at a Drive-In...
It was my senior year of college, and I was graduating early in December — not the usual spring sendoff. I’d spent every summer in class (those were the only times some of my courses were offered), so I was eager to finish.
That summer, one of my girlfriends had a new boyfriend, and she was eager for us to meet him. He lived in my hometown of Shreveport, so I invited the girls home for the weekend.
We had a lovely little get-together. He seemed like a nice guy. End of story... or so I thought.
The next week, my friend and I went to a movie and made a stop at Danny’s Drive-In — the teenage hangout of the day. Who should be there? That same boyfriend, plus a friend. They hopped in our car (yep, it was the '60s), and he announced, “Mary and I broke up.”
What happened?
Well… I happened.
He had met me and apparently decided I was the one. To be honest, I was completely surprised. But he pursued me — persistently and patiently. Eventually, after some friendship drama, I agreed to go out with him.
From there, everything snowballed:
• Dropped (that’s sorority-speak) in November
• Pinned in December
• Teaching in January in a small Louisiana fishing town
• Engaged in February
• Married in June
All that, and we never lived in the same town until after the wedding.
Would I recommend that timeline? Probably not.
Did it work? Apparently, yes.
💡 7 Pieces of Marriage Wisdom from 61 Years on the Road
✨ Wisdom #1: God Must Come First
We both knew from the start that God was the center of our lives and would be the anchor of our marriage. That faith is what helped me stay grounded in the moments I was spitting nails over something ridiculous he did. (And oh, there were plenty of those.)
✨ Wisdom #2: Commitment Isn’t Cute — It’s Crucial
There were days I wanted to throw in the towel. But I believed in the sanctity of marriage. God-ordained. God-approved. God-led. That commitment held when nothing else did.
✨ Wisdom #3: Communication Isn’t Always Calm
We weren’t exactly paragons of healthy conflict resolution. We yelled, we stomped, we raged like emotional hyenas. But we always found our way back, sat down, talked it through, and moved forward. Not pretty — but it worked.
✨ Wisdom #4: Shared Values Help
We were both Southern, raised in the church, from working-class families. Our goals were similar — family, faith, purpose. While opposites can attract, shared values make the long haul smoother.
✨ Wisdom #5: Children Aren’t the Glue
We love our kids dearly, but we never made them the reason for our marriage. They were part of our family — not the foundation of it. That gave our relationship strength long after they grew up.
✨ Wisdom #6: Respect & Trust — Even When It’s Hard
We had to fight for respect and rebuild trust at times. There was even a moment I’ve never shared (and won’t here) — but my faith, and my commitment, carried me through. And him, too.
✨ Wisdom #7: Agape Love is the Real Flame
That early fire? It fades. Life happens — kids, bills, gravity, sleepless nights, and wrinkled mornings. But agape love — the kind that’s unconditional, selfless, and sacrificial — is the kind that lasts. It's not based on feelings, but on choice. And that kind of love? It’s powerful.
I could go on (and on — I have 61 years of material!), but I’ll stop here.
💬 Now it’s your turn!
Whether you’re married, divorced, dating, or somewhere in between — I’d love to hear from you.
What’s your relationship wisdom? What have you learned the hard way — or the holy way? Share your thoughts in the comments below or reply to this post directly.
Let’s have a conversation. And who knows? Maybe your words will be the encouragement someone else needs today.
With love,
Janice
Wander Woman
🌍 iamwanderwoman.com
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