結婚80週年！在2021年5月31日，我丈夫的叔公彼特和叔婆露絲一起慶祝這非凡的里程碑！在1941年一次偶然的相遇後，他們墜入愛河，當時露絲還在讀高中。由於他們非常渴望在一起，所以在露絲高中畢業典禮的隔天，兩人就毅然結婚了。現在，彼特和露絲相信是上帝讓他們相遇，而且這些年來一直引領著他們。

回顧過去80年的婚姻生活，彼特和露絲都認為，維持婚姻關係的重要關鍵就是選擇饒恕。凡是要維持關係和諧的人都知道我們需要彼此饒恕，因人與人之間經常會互相傷害，有時是因為一句傷人的話、一個沒遵守的承諾，或一件忘了做的事。

為了幫助信徒能彼此連結、和睦共處，保羅在他所寫的一封書信中，提到饒恕的重要性。他敦促信徒當「存憐憫、恩慈、謙虛、溫柔、忍耐的心」（歌羅西書3章12節），接著又勸勉他們，「倘若這人與那人有嫌隙，總要彼此包容，彼此饒恕」（13節）。最重要的是他們彼此之間的互動，都要存著愛心（14節）。

若我們的人際關係能展現出保羅所描述的特質，將會是一種美好的祝福。願上帝幫助我們，能培養充滿愛心與饒恕的美好關係。

Eighty years of marriage! My husband’s great-uncle Pete and great-aunt Ruth celebrated this remarkable milestone on May 31, 2021. After a chance meeting in 1941 when Ruth was still in high school, the young couple were so eager to get married that they eloped the day after Ruth graduated. Pete and Ruth believe God brought them together and has guided them all these years.

Reflecting on eight decades of marriage, Pete and Ruth both agree that one key to sustaining their relationship has been the decision to choose forgiveness. Anyone in a healthy relationship understands that we all regularly need forgiveness for the ways we hurt each other, whether through an unkind word, a broken promise, or a forgotten task.

In a section of Scripture written to help believers in Jesus live together in unity, Paul refers to the essential role forgiveness plays. After urging his readers to choose “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12), Paul adds the encouragement to “forgive one another if any of you has a grievance” (v. 13). Most importantly, all their interactions with each were to be guided by love (v. 14).

Relationships that model the characteristics outlined by Paul are a blessing. May God help all of us work to cultivate healthy relationships characterized by love and forgiveness.