After 50 Years Of Marriage, Couple Ties Nuptial Knots Afresh

In this time and age when many marriages are hitting the rock and crashing like a pack of cards, regardless of creed, age, race, culture and experience, having a couple stick to each other for as long as fifty years is, no doubt an uncommon and implausible feat.

This amazing feat is what the Octogenarian Rev. Dr. Moses Iloh and his amiable Septuagenarian wife, Edith celebrated last Sunday when they renewed their marriage vows in the presence their children, grand-children, friends, family and church members at a warm and well attended service and reception, which held at their church, Soul- Winning Chapel, situated at No 279 Borno Way, Ebute-Metta, Yaba, Lagos.

Indeed, the ambience of the church auditorium bore witness to the fact of a new dawn for the couple; even as the groom, Daddy Iloh, as he is fondly called, assured all that the outing was not to celebrate his wedding anniversary but to marry his wife afresh.

His words, “I am not here to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. I am marrying my wife again. She is God’s special gift, for which I shall forever be grateful.”

Exuding unparalleled joy and rapture, the firstborn of the family, who also happens to be an American-based cleric, flew in from the United States to join the couple. In her address as the officiating minister, Rev. Molly Iloh-Hudson testified that her parents have left a rare legacy for her and her siblings, which has continued to mark them out for excellence wherever they go.

Said she, “Daddy and Mummy have been worthy example to us. We are so blessed because the love they share is not common; it is not seen in everyday life.”

“They taught us that marriage is not honeymoon; it is not a go and come back trip. It is a life-time journey of love and it is only with continued care that such love is protected”, she added.

While leading her parents to take their marriage vows, Molly noted, “We are here to celebrate a renewal of marriage vows. We celebrate this significant event in their lives. In marriage, we give ourselves freely and genuinely into the hands of the one we love. My parents have been an example for us. These are hearts that communicate truth and sincerity. They are bonded with simple, pure love, which will never fade. So, we celebrate this renewal of love with utmost respect and gratitude.”

Also speaking at the occasion, the world-acclaimed Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Dr. Mike Okonkwo, who also happens to be the younger brother to the bride, Mummy Edith Iloh, confessed that he could not hold back his tears when he saw his 85 year old brother-in-law, Rev. Iloh march into the hall with his groomsmen, (his sons and sons-in-law) to celebrate half a century of blissful marriage.

“Is it not a wonder that at 85 and with 50 years of married-life, this man is still so strong and amazing? We live in a world of waywardness and rebellion; it is a selfish world where people do not care about family.

“I can recall when these children were growing up and the challenges we had raising them. So, when you see children that can look back and celebrate their parents while they are still alive, it is a great thing; a most desired blessing for which we should give thanks to God.”

In his sermon, Okonkwo read from Psalm 34 verse 1 and spoke on the subject of Praise in the Valley. According to him, “50 years is not an easy feat, going by the fact that life often hands you a tornado and if you don’t handle it well, you will fade away.” He noted that “Life is not an expressway but a journey filled with mountains and valleys.”

The cleric added: “Today, marriages are breaking up because people are not willing to pay the price to keep it. Selfishness is uppermost on the minds of many; hence they are not able to succeed”.

He therefore admonished all to embrace and respect the sanctity of marriage because it is God’s institution and is meant to beautify our lives.

“Marriage is a process; it is about continuous learning and sacrifice. Marriage is God’s idea and He alone has the authority to tell us how to run it. Until we learn to conquer our failures, we cannot get to the mountain top”, he noted.

“Marriage can be laced with mountains and valleys but that is not the final stop. According to Psalm 76 vs. 1 – 3, it is only in the valley that God is really known. The devil has a tradition of showing us the valley and how deep it is but we must know that all the things we see are temporal; whatever the challenges are, they are temporal and will pass away if we do not give up; only spiritual things are eternal”, he added.

On hand to felicitate with the couple was a long time close friend of the family, an elder statesman and well respected erstwhile presidential candidate of the defunct Nigerian Advance Party, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, who also attested to the uncommon love and sincerity shared by the Ilohs.  Recounting the mercies of God on his own 59 year old matrimony, he upholds that the presence of God cannot be wished away by any couple that desires peace, progress and lasting happiness. While supervising the cutting of the cake, he admonished the younger generation of married couples to give Jesus his rightful place in their homes, even as they uphold the values of trust, love and forgiveness as necessary ingredients to continually spice their union.

Speaking on behalf of the children, Izuchukwu Iloh admits that his father is such an amazing and gracious man.

“Daddy is the most amazing father you can ever have. He was rich as a successful business man and spent his earnings to give his wife and children the best of life. Our parents sent us to the best schools; they also sent us to different parts of the world on vacation. So, when daddy came up and said he had received a call to full time ministry, it was with mixed feelings that we received it because what it meant was that we would no longer have the privilege of enjoying the goodies of life. Looking back today, we have every cause to thank God that daddy answered the call”, said Iloh Jnr.

In his ‘thank you’ response, the celebrant, Daddy Moses Iloh said, “I count myself one of the most blessed men on earth because God has given me the best of all things. He gave me the most amazing wife ever; he gave me incredibly lovely children and grand children. In addition, he ordered the steps of my children such that they have not given us sons and daughters-in-law but sons and daughters from another mother and father. So, we all are one big, happy family. He has also surrounded us with great friends, partners, burden bearers and church members that continually bring us joy. For all these, I cannot but continue to praise God. I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

Asked how and where they intend to spend their honeymoon after this history wedding, Rev. Iloh said although vacation is a tradition for them, they cannot travel now because they need to give their daughter, Molly some time and attention since she left her job, family and all in the United States to celebrate her parents at this auspicious time. He, however assured that very soon, he would take his wife out again for a time of fellowship and prayer.