The hot shower felt good on his tired muscles. It had been a long day, but a day to remember. He and Rachel had spent the day in celebration of their 50th anniversary. All the kids had come to town for the party. Many of the neighbors and most of the members of the congregation had gathered to express love and appreciation for them. The gifts had been very generous. But it had been a long day and Robert needed the relaxation of the hot water on the back of his neck and shoulders.
As he stood there letting the water massage him, his mind drifted back through the years he had shared with Rachel. He remembered meeting her in the band hall at the high school. She was a freshman, he was a junior. She was gorgeous, dark hair and beautiful eyes and a smile that lit up the room. He introduced himself and welcomed her to the band. He was smitten that moment.
Within two week he had asked her for a date and she had accepted. Neither had ever dated anyone else again. Their relationship had grown to a deep love and respect for each other. Robert remembered the day Rachel had become a Christian; he witnessed her baptism in the river at the church camp they attended the summer after he had graduated from high school. Her commitment to Christ had matched his own, and helped them maintain their purity, their virginity until their wedding night! That was fifty years ago tonight.
Robert could see the scene of their wedding night as though it was yesterday. He was nervous and yet so anxious to become one in the flesh with his beautiful bride. After the wedding ceremony and the reception, he and Rachel had flown to Antigua for their honeymoon. They had arrived after a long, but glorious day—not unlike today. He had carried his new wife across the threshold of their bungalow. He had taken a hot shower that night too.
He could still remember his anticipation that night. As he had toweled off, knowing Rachel was preparing herself for him on the other side of the door, his heart had pounded. His body was alive with sensation. When he had opened the door, Rachel was standing before him. She was in a delicate white negligee, with her dark hair encircling her face and touching her shoulders. And she had such a wonderful and inviting smile on her lips. They had both longed for this moment. He was so glad he could present himself to her in purity, and receive her in the same way.
Robert came back to the present, and turned off the water and dried off. When he opened the door, he caught his breath. His beautiful Rachel was standing before him. She was in a delicate white negligee, with her no longer dark hair encircling her still beautiful face. And she had such a wonderful and inviting smile on her lips. She softly spoke his name, “Robert.”
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