Faith through good, bad
The Dancer, Christine Kings from Australia, and the Craps Dealer, Charles (Cas) Swayden from Kansas, met at a car wash in Las Vegas in 1967. Was it love at first sight? Maybe.
They married in 1969 and had two children, Chad and Cassie. Not wanting to raise them in the “City of Sin” they moved to Albuquerque in 1974 and have lived in Sandia Heights in the same home for 43 years.
Cas and Chris believe the secret to a happy marriage and long-lasting love is putting God first, then each other. They had their ups and downs through 52 years of marriage. But through it all they made a commitment to God, one that takes perseverance, understanding and forgiveness.
Having the same values regarding parenting is one way to keep a marriage strong. They weren’t perfect parents, but believed in discipline, respect and when necessary, tough love. Since the 1980s, when they became Christians, they strived to become positive role models for their children and grandchildren by being involved in church and studying the Scriptures.
Adventure creates a sense of togetherness. A life-changing experience happened when they went on a mission trip to Uganda to meet all the children they sponsored. The kids had nothing but were happy as they relied on God to meet their needs. Cas and Christine felt so blessed to witness what true contentment looked like, that they went back to Uganda a second time. They sponsor 21 children, communicating with them through letters and Facebook. An adventure of a lifetime.
A goal for any marriage is to have things in common, activities to do together, and Cas and Christine accomplished that. Christine went on almost every hunting trip with her husband, and besides the dogs, was usually the only female. They also enjoyed fishing, golfing and traveling.
Cas is 82 and has Alzheimer’s and Christine, 76, is his caregiver; a new experience for both of them but she believes their love has deepened as they endure this dreaded disease together.
So, their secret of long-lasting love is faith. Faith in God and His Word and faith in each other, through the good and bad. Unconditional love, for that is the commandment Christ gave — “love one another, even as I have loved you.” John 15:12.