Union and Commitment

But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together,
​let not man put asunder. Mark 6-9

God made one man for one woman; therefore divorce is not permissible, unless the one act be committed which severs the nuptial tie. Then only is the bond broken by which husband and wife are one. There should be no compulsory celibacy. Some can live the single life; others cannot. Each must work out his own possibilities, and none may judge another.
It would appear that the fathers brought the little ones. They had a truer perception of the heart of Jesus than the disciples. All through the ages men have supposed that strength, wisdom, and wealth have the greatest attractions for our Lord, whereas it is precisely the reverse. Of such is His Kingdom.
​(F.B. Meyer)

The Journey Begins

On November 27, 1976 at 2:00 p.m., Lyndon Gene Couillard and I, Lorna Ann Millington were united in marriage in our home in Cheney Four Corners, Newbury Vt. in the home we built that same year. It began a journey of love, commitment, many trials and obstacles, and heartaches. 
The challenges were never-ending. But, with each one that came our way, we worked through them, and overcame, to produce a meaningful life, and achieve the goals we set out to do, when we began that day 48 years ago.
The book I wrote, The NightWatchman describes the many trials and lessons that were learned as we maneuvered through the hardships and obstacles. Through them God taught me many things in walking with Him, and proved His love, but also taught the importance of obedience, and commitment. Both are a decision, a choice and we are always allowed to have free will to either obey God's word on a subject, or to go our own way. During the years of our marriage together, I learned how important God's commandments are to Him, and that He watches our lives to see whether they mean anything to us. I learned blessings come to us, when we choose to obey the Lord, and his Word.

During our first year of building the house, we slept on the ground next to the campfire. Every weekend we met and I cooked our meals on the fire, and helped as Lynn and those we hired helped us, and were able to be married in the house in the fall, November 27, of that year 1976. I still lived in New York, and had to make the 3 hour trip to meet Lynn, and we'd spend the time working on the land and house, and go back to our jobs on Monday's. During those years-every day, there was never any time to be bored. Lynn raised cattle, I saved and bought my first young Arabians, and began the dream of my childhood, raising and training them. We also raised my daughter Carrie- and took many vacation trips with her, 6 years of piano lessons, music events of all kinds, she went through 2 bikes, a guitar, and many kids that she brought to the house, and had picnics, and parties many weekends. She graduated with honors, and a music scholarship, and went to NYC to music college. She's gone on to accomplish many things in area ministries over the years. 
While at Newbury, I was born again, saved in March of 1978. A couple of months later, the fellowship I was attending wanted to have a baptism ceremony for those in our group who had gotten saved and wanted to be water baptized. I offered to have it at our home. On July 12, 1978 I along with 13 other's were baptized in our pond, and afterwards we had a celebration ceremony, with a lunch and a music group played-there were about 100 in attendance. I made the certificates that were signed by the elders of the fellowship, and given to each one who was baptized. It's a precious memory I'll never forget. 
Lynn and I left a part of ourselves there, that will never be forgotten. It molded us, and made us into the people we became, and the commitments, we held dear. We left it with knowing we had accomplished much of what was in our hearts together, but we had to continue on, to another part of our journey.

In 1996, Lynn and I knew it was time to leave our first home, and move. Lynn wanted more land, I did also, but, it took some time to find what we had in our hearts. We found a large piece of land in West Burke, Vt. and purchased it. Lynn was now retired, but I was still working, taking care of seniors in a retirement home in Newbury.
With these commitments, we continued to show horses, and juggled all of it somehow, I wonder at times, how we did it. But, at the time, we just kept going, and for us, it just seemed normal. I'm glad we didn't sit and dwell on the do's or don'ts, we went on each day with purpose, and responsibilities. 
When we bought the land, Lynn designed the house, and began to get the foundation and landscaping done. We moved into the home close to Christmas time, in 1997.
​During this time, Lynn's mother was needing care, and he spent many nights caring for her at home, until she passed away. My mother also came to stay with us, when she became disabled with diabetes and a partial foot amputation. We both took care of our parents until their death.
The riding lessons I gave during those years, and the horse shows kept us busy all the time. We took kids all over the state and several other's to weekend horse events, and some of them rode my horses in classes, as part of their schooling and lessons I gave at our home. I've many precious memories.

As I reflect on the life Lynn and I began 48 years ago today, I give the Lord Jesus the thanks, and appreciation for a life lived with direction, and for the man who he put in my path, who said he wanted me to share his life with. I'm looking forward to meeting him again-and talking over the things we shared. The accomplishments, the misunderstandings that he now has a better picture of, and mistakes we both made. But, the love, and union, hasn't changed, nor what we were able to achieve together. Nothing can take that away, or change it. In eternity, we will serve God, with the things we learned here. He's gone on before me, and waiting. I know I'll see him again, he said so, with a twinkle in his eye.
May God bless the memory of Lyndon Gene Couillard, till we meet again.
​Lorna Couillard