We talk a lot about that 50% of marriages will end in divorce and no matter what two digits you put in front of the % sign – it’s still going to be a lot. But rarely do we talk about the digits that come in front of the other percent – you know the percent of marriages that do not end in divorce? If 50% of first marriages end in divorce — then 50% of all first marriages don’t end in divorce.
What About This Other 50%?
In a recent article I read in an online British paper – Frank and Anita Milford reportedly became Britain’s longest-married living couple after they celebrated their 78th wedding anniversary. 78 years together. They met in 1926 at a dance in Plymouth and married two years later. The Daily Telegraph quoted Frank Milford, age 98, as saying:
We don’t always see eye to eye and we do have a small argument every day.
Anita, his 97 year-old wife added: But that comes and goes and we are always here for each other.
What is the key to the Milford’s long-lasting relationship? They rely on give and take as well as lots of laughter. Percy and Florence Arrowsmith 80 years set the longest-ever marriage in Britain.
Together, the Milford’s have two children, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. The couple lives together in a nursing home where they can live comfortably with assistance as needed. The marriage is admired by the care assistants at the home who told the Daily Telegraph that when Anita was sick not to long ago and restricted to bed – Frank never left her side.
Happily Ever After
A lot of people get married with the expectation that if it doesn’t work out – they can just get a divorce. The very idea of being married for 70+ years is beyond imagining for too many. My grandmother and grandfather were married for nearly 30 years when my grandfather died. My husband’s grandparents were married for over 40 years when his grandmother died.
At a recent dinner party given by my neighbor, I met a woman who just celebrated her 22nd wedding anniversary. She married at the age of 18 and both of her children are now grown and in college. She’s still giggling about her husband.
So yes, maybe 50% of marriages do end up in divorce; but 50% of marriages don’t – and that means when you invest your time, your energy and your belief together with your love and commitment – you can discover that happily ever after may not be such a myth after all and after nearly 8 decades – they are definitely my inspiration!