What if the story of your marriage could be told through a single tradition—one letter, written each Christmas, year after year? In Story of a Marriage: 50 Years of Christmas Love Letters, author Jim McCormick invites readers into the intimate chronicle of his life with his beloved wife, Marilyn.
It began in 1968, with a simple gesture: a love letter tucked into a holiday celebration. That letter became a cherished ritual, repeated every Christmas for five decades. Through these handwritten words, Jim captured the essence of their journey, from the joy of newlywed bliss, the chaos and delight of raising children, to moments of hardship, heartfelt apologies, shared faith, and the quiet beauty of growing old together. Each letter became a thread in the tapestry of their marriage, weaving together devotion, resilience, and the courage to choose love time and again.
When Marilyn neared the end of her life, Jim feared that the letters might be lost forever. However, their son, David, found them carefully preserved, a treasure chest of memory and meaning. Rereading them brought tears and gratitude, and ultimately, the decision to share their story with the world.
This book is not just a collection of letters. It is a testament to the endurance of love. Jim refers to it as his “poor man’s Taj Mahal,” a monument built not of stone, but of words, faith, and tradition. Readers will find themselves moved by the raw honesty of a marriage that weathered storms yet never lost its warmth.
As Jim reminds us: true love is not only a feeling, but a choice that is renewed each day, and each Christmas. Story of a Marriage is a gift for anyone who believes in the power of commitment, the beauty of tradition, and the enduring strength of love.
