At least once a day I look at the referrals on my stat-tracker to see where the traffic to my blog is coming from. Over 100 of my referrals every day are from Google where someone has searched, “How to keep my wife happy,” or “How to have a happy marriage.” I’m not sure why they find my blog, but I’m sure it has something to do with loving to write about happy marriages (See here, here, here and here). We hear and read about so many unhappy marriages I think it’s good to hear about some happy ones too.
Their life story is an amazing one. In March of 1946, Mildred found herself on a train headed to Texas to marry a man (Ted) she’d only had one date with. They fell in love and married.
For years, Ted & Mildred raised a family and ran Henderson Lumber Yard in Childress, Texas. In 1971, Ted had a heart attack, so his kids took over running the family business. That gave Ted and Mildred more time to spend with one another and more time to fall in love. They spent years enjoying one another and life.
My favorite Ted and Mildred story is how Ted always told Mildred how much he loved her. He made sure she knew. Even in his later days when Ted’s mind began to slip and as his dementia grew, he constantly told his Mildred just how much he loved her. He just didn’t realize how many times he’d tell her each day. He would say, “Momma, do you know how much I love you?” There were even times when he’d wake her up at night just to tell her that he loved her. She’d always say, “I’m the most blessed woman in the world to have a man who loves me this much.”
Her son, Mike, suggested that she might put beans in her pocket for just one day, and every time he told her that he loved her, she could move a bean from one pocket to the other pocket. Then she’d know just how loved she was. She did it, she took his advise, and at the end of the day, she counted 87 beans.
Ted and Mildred have been gone for years. But their legacy of love lives on in their children, grandchildren and those that knew them. A life-long fulfilling marriage of love, family and faith. What an amazing gift from God. It’s what I want…a “bean counting” marriage.
I am a Christian husband and father, who moonlights as the minister for the church of Christ in Childress, Texas. My wife Lea and I have been married for 23 years. We are doing our best to raise our 4 boys, who are all growing up way too fast.
Trey,
Having remarried later in life, I don’t suppose Ned and I will still be alive to celebrate fifty years together. But, I can’t imagine any one I’d like to try to spend the next fifty with. Being loved, truly, wholly, and completely is one the most amazing blessings God gives. I am truly blessed.
Counting my beans,
Neva
Thanks for sharing such a heart-warming story Trey. Great song too.
Such a sweet story!!
Isn’t it amazing that happy marriages bring life and happiness to their families. There are a lot of happy Henderson’s because of a life well lived by those two. What a great story! We all need to be counting beans.
P.S. I love that picture in your profile. Which son is that? You should have a huge one of those framed!
Loved the story. It is such a blessing to know you are loved and to have that kind of marriage that people want.
Great story.
And I check my stat tracker several times a day. It’s OCD, I know.
I think if I spent more times counting beans and less time counting the times he made me ‘nuts’ I would be a blessed person.
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Great story…
Am I the only person who thought, “ewwwwww! Old people kissing!” I mean come on Trey first thing in the morning…just kidding of course (well not really), great story!
Have a good day!
What a terrific story – and couple. Lon and I have been married 58 years and each year is more of a blessing than the last. And Robert, when you get as old as we are, you won’t mind kissing even in the morning. Each day is precious and we are thankful to be alive to kiss – several times a day. I pray that we will be remembered in loving ways, too. Jeanne M.
I love it!
Kathy
cool, we need more marriages like this.
it will continue to be more and more rare, sadly
thanks for sharing
brian
Great story and post.
I plan to borrow it!
87 beans? I was expecting 20 or so. It puts me to shame I’m afraid.
Monalea, I love your thought too.
James
Trey, appreciate the story and hope google keeps sending people your way to read stories like that. Keep up the good work.
Ooooooh! That was sweet. Thanks for sharing.
Paula
Love the story and love the picture too. It warms my heart to see an older couple kiss! Thanks for sharing.
-nb
Trey,
Great story.
My anniversary was yesterday so I have been thinking about sweet things lately for my to read. She loved it too.
God bless brother.
& of course GO SPURS GO!
You ain’t bean counted till a bean counter counts ya!
I probably tell Tom 87 times a day that I love him and I’m not even senile. Not yet, anyway! But we married in our 40s and he is the love of my life. We’ve been together now nearly 20 years, but have known each other for 28 years and each year gets better and better.
As far as old people kissing – when I look at Tom, I see him in my heart’s eyes as he was when I first met him, not as he really is now. Once in a great while I really LOOK at him physically and am a bit shocked, but love him with a heart of love, that knows no time passing. Only rejoicing in the experience.
Dee
(of Finding Direction: The Wind Vane Chronicles”)
What a legacy to leave.