What in this world is a Victory Kiss? The definition of victory is: success in any struggle involving the defeat of an opponent, etc. (Webster's New World Dictionary, 1968 edition) So how does this relate to kissing? Please follow along with me and we will identify the opponent and I will lead you to the Victory Kiss and how victory over the opponent was gained by this couple. (This is longer than some of my post, but I promise to tie the knot in the end. Get you a cup of coffee or spiced cider to sip on while you read, RH)
We are quickly approaching the holiday season. Thanksgiving is next Thursday and Christmas will soon be upon us. This my favorite time of the year with good food, Christmas music, Christmas shows, giving and receiving gifts, seeing the smiles on the faces of young children and enjoying time with family. I also enjoy reflecting back on the memories of Christmas past. Every Christmas for me has been filled with loving memories that can put me to a peaceful place this time of year. I have always been with loving families on Christmas. Each Christmas makes me appreciate the loving families that I am a part of. All of this just doesn't happen. Living in this fallen world, we have an opponent who wants to defeat us and steal away from us any happiness involved with being a family as God has instituted from the beginning.
Genesis 2:21-24 tells us that God made Eve from Adam's rib. Adam then named her Eve, and God said, Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh, NKJV. This passage tells us that marriage between a man and woman is sanctioned by God. Also read Malachi chapter 2:10-17. In verse 11, God tells that Judah has profaned the institution which God loves. He is talking about marriage and in verse 16 we see God's feelings on divorce. For the Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce. Go back up to verse 15.
But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.
Christ was asked about divorce in Matthew 19:1-9 and also describes adultery in Matthew 5:31-32.
Satan wants us to steer clear of these verses and have us divorce for any reason. One of the problems we have with our culture today is the breakdown of the family. Satan uses the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life, just like he did with Eve in the Garden of Eden, to destroy the family as God has instituted. But, God is not like we are, and He is more loving. He is forgiving and also makes a way for one to repent if you are guilty of falling for the deceptions and temptions of Satan. You say, I have made such a mess of my life, I could never get forgiveness. You are wrong. Read Isaiah 59:1. Read also what the Apostle Paul said to the Corinthians in 1Corintians 6:9-11. Is there hope if you have been sexually immoral? Read closely what is said in verse 11. And such were some of you. Satan doesn't want you reading this verse. He wants you to feel guilty and just give up.
If you are in the above situation, don't give up. The man that wrote the above, the Apostle Paul was previously called Saul of Tarsus. He went around killing Christians, but look what happened to him. He became one of God's greatest servants here on earth. How did he do it? You can read about this in Acts 9:6,17-18. Have you done anything as bad as killing Christians like Saul? How did he handle the guilt of killing innocent people? Here is how. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14 NKJV You may have really messed up your family in the past, but do like Paul, He repented of what he was doing and started doing what God wanted him to do. You can do it. You owe it to yourself and your family to try.
Now to the couple that beat all odds. Would you have given up? I know many in that generation that also overcame and are entitled to the Victory Kiss and after reading this I am sure you do to.
It was a warm day in November, the 22nd day of November to be exact. She was 17 and he was 18.
Her aunt and uncle were present as witnesses. The only other people present were the preacher, his son and daughter in-law. Her dad and his dad had to sign papers for them to get married. The wedding was not in a church building but in the preacher's house. There was not a photographer or a reception.
They left in a rented car on their honeymoon to Dyersburg, Tennessee. The reason they had to drive a rented car was the young man was going to take his mother's new Buick, but he wrecked it the night before, running into a telephone pole about 30 yards from the house. He had fallen asleep,and he still falls asleep easily to this day.
When they left for Dyersburg, the weather was warm and comfortable. This changed rather quickly in the night. They awoke to freezing temperatures and could not open the motel room door because of the heavy snow. When they did get out and loaded in the car for home, the car didn't have antifreeze in the radiator and the block had frozen and busted. After getting the car fixed they had to drive home on treacherous and slick roads.
Arriving to their first home was not like the homes most couples have today. This was an old farmhouse on his dad's farm. There was no running water, no heaters, no indoor bathrooms and no telephone. There was a fireplace in the living room.
It was freezing cold outside. The young man started a fire in the fireplace. They were looking forward to their first night at home. This was not to be. The fireplace was stopped up and soot quickly entered the room, and the rest of the house, settling on the few things they had. They had to leave and go to his parents to spend the night. The next day they came back home, cleaned the soot off everthing and cleaned the fireplace out , they thought, and built another fire and the same thing happened. They had to build a new fireplace in the kitchen, which took a few days, and reclean the soot off all the clothes, walls and furniture. Until they got everything done, they would be alternating staying with parents. During all of this, some of the young man's friends put his wife's bicycle on the roof and put a big block of salt, that the cattle lick, in their bed.
Well, they finally got the house liveable. They didn't have a car. The young man bought a 3/4 ton flatbed truck. The truck was old and had a stick shift. The young man finally got a job, they got a telephone, they never did get indoor plumbing and also they didn't have a washer and dryer.
What are the odds, if this happened today, of this marriage lasting? The devil was really wanting this marriage to fail. He continually placed hardship in their way and they trudged on anyway. They were married on November 22, 1950 and on June 26, 1952 they had their first son and had 2 more sons after that.
The harder life became for this young couple, the closer they became to each other and to God. They experienced financial problems, health problems, losing jobs and selling the farm. As they have gotten older, their health is still a concern. This young woman's jet black hair has been replaced by almost white hair. The young man's strong physique has been replaced with drooping muscles and a very sloooww gait.
Do they still love one another? I will let you decide. I carried this used to be young woman to the hospital last week. This now old man would not leave her side at the hospital. He told the doctors and nurses, I have been married to this woman for 64 years and I love her. I am not leaving her side and you had better be good to her.
Well, they didn't find anything wrong with her. They let her go home. We thought it was some medication she was taking. When she stopped taking it, she quickly started getting better. I stopped by the next morning to carry him to work. This morning he wasn't ready,and I had to go in and wait. I am glad I did.
I witnessed something great. You see, I know about their ups and downs. I also know that many people know them, love them and respect them. Mother cooks for people when needed and he greets people at Walmart on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. All of the hardship they have gone through was defeated by what I saw. Before he left for work, he and she kissed one another on the lips as though it was their first kiss. Devil, you didn't breakup this marriage with any of your tricks.
If you haven't guessed it by now, this is my mother and father, Bill and Patsy Hepler. This kiss was a Victory Kiss, because their love for God and each other has carried them over many obstacles the last 64 years. Dad told me this morning when they go to bed at night, he kisses mother and says, I will see you in the morning one way or another, here or in heaven.
Money can't buy what that Victory Kiss means to me. We boys have had a loving mother and father together all of our lives. What a difference our country would be in, if other sons and daughter could see their parents kising the Victory Kiss.
Don't you give up! You can make the ending good! Start today! The Victory Kiss is awaiting.
Happy 64th Anniversary Mom and Dad. Thank you for being faithful all 64 of them.
Please send me your comments at rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com
I deal with sexual immorality and how we can overcome it in my book, The Heart Behind the Stone:Develop a Giant Slaying Heart. You can go to www.amazon.com to purchase it.
Thank you so much for reading and I hope you have a good weekend.
Rick Hepler
P.S. You can send mother and dad a little note on their 64th anniversary Saturday, November the 22nd at bhepler32@yahoo.com
