What is love?
Deidra Bowling-Meade
Ashland Beacon
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
1 Corinthians 13:1-8
It’s Valentine’s Day! There is no better way to celebrate the true meaning of love than with Boyd County sweethearts Charles (Charlie) and Joyce Sorrell, who will be celebrating 73 years of marriage this August.
Charlie recalled how he began his courtship, “It was April the 8th, the year ‘49, when I dated a blonde for the very first time. I was injured on my job and not working, so I had plenty of time. My brother, June, told me there was a cute blonde waiting on the school bus, and I ought to give her a ride to school. So, I drove up and asked her if she wanted a ride to school, and she said “yes!” Joyce was 15 at the time, and Charlie was 20. Joyce reminisced with a smile: “I had seen him at Sunday School and knew who he was. He ran around some with my brother, Homer, but I had never talked with him before…but why wait on the bus when you could get a ride to school. I had to walk out of the hollow where we lived to wait on the bus to pick me up from U.S. 60.” Charlie continued to leave his job each afternoon on his break time to pick up Joyce from high school and take her home. His boss told him that he could no longer leave the job even though it was his break. Charlie responded, “Well if this job might interfere with my courting, then I’ll quit my job!” Charlie still kept his job and continued taking his break to pick Joyce up from school! Their courtship was successful due to Charlie’s love and determination to see Joyce.
The couple got married on August 19, 1950. All because these two fell in love, the couple has been blessed with three children, six grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and 6 great, great-grandchildren.
What has made this couple’s marriage last and be successful? Charlie finds that marriage is successful “when you consider your spouse the only person in the world for you.” Joyce claimed that you must have “complete consideration for each other’s feelings.” Above all, Charlie and Joyce are faithful servants of Jesus Christ, who have worshiped their entire lives with their church family at Meade Station Church of God. Through their faith and daily walk with Christ, they exemplify the true meaning of love. Charlie and Joyce look to their Heavenly Father for all guidance and advice knowing that all things are possible through Christ.
Their daughter Janet Cross shared, “It’s obvious to all of the family that they deeply care for each other. When the family had experienced tragedy and loss, I asked them once if they were doing okay as they were getting up in years. They responded that ‘we are stronger than we look, and God has seen us through in times past. We know full well He will see us through again.’ I saw them endure each loss, each heartache with a strength that comes from God and flourishes in their lives. They are a strong foundation for us all, and we can always count on them to be there for us. Their love is unconditional, and there is nothing they would not attempt to do to ease the burden or the load from the family. And while there have been trials, the blessings have far outweighed them, and we are thankful. They are parents/grandparents who love not in words only, but by love in action that all of us have experienced. We are truly blessed! They keep showing up every day, for each other, and for us all!”
Lora Parsons, who is the granddaughter of Charlie and Joyce, finds that the steadfastness of their relationship is what stands out most to her. Parsons shared, “They’ve been a source of constant, faithful stability for each other when on the outside looking in. I see playfulness in the time they spend together, and they delight in providing for one another and for their family. It’s obvious to see in spending any time at all with them that the foundation of their marriage is a strong faith in God and in His ability to sustain them and provide whatever need they have. And, they love like Jesus—freely, fully, and sacrificially—whether they’re showing their love to each other or to us.”
The scripture Matthew 22:37-39 comes to mind when looking at how the Sorrells view love:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” Their view on love and 73 years together are an example for us all. Parsons described how she has witnessed her grandparents’ example with her own marriage and life: “Their example has absolutely affected how Trey and I try to live life inside of our marriage and with our children and extended family. If we can follow Jesus like Mamaw and Papaw do, then we’ll also be loving like Him toward one another and toward our kiddos. Mamaw and Papaw exemplify the phrase from Corinthians—“follow me as I follow Christ” not only in their relationship with each other and in their relationship with their family, but in every single aspect of their lives. They’re the best kind of good in the world!”
Truly, love never fails.
