ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) -- While January 31st is just another day of the week for most of us, one couple in Elmira is celebrating a big milestone. 

"It was a mutual agreement to get married because we’ve known each other for so long. It was like there wasn’t anyone else for us," said Shirley Mather, who has been married to her husband Francis, for the last 70 years.

The Mather's got married when they were 17 and 18 years-old, but just five years into their marriage -- they experienced a couple of traumatic things.

"He had had appendicitis, we had lost a car down a hill, and the final straw was I miscarried. And that did it for us," said S. Mather.

The couple were ready to call it quits because they thought they had made a mistake by getting married at such a young age. Instead of calling it quits on their marriage, the couple decided to turn to the one person who they said could save them -- and that was God.

"When we came to the Lord that completely changed us. We turned around and God gave us back our love, and then it began to grow (again)," said S. Mather.

"All I can say is the born-again experience was the greatest experience of my life. She would say the same. He saved our souls, He salvaged our marriage, and gave us six beautiful kids," said Francis Mather.

The Mather's give all the credit to God for saving their marriage, and they continue to worship Him to this day.

"Christianity is a lifestyle, it isn’t just a happening. It's not just something you do when you’re young or little. It's something to be explored, it’s something to live for. There's a multitude of experiences that the Lord has for anyone who will follow Him," said F. Mather.

But what makes a marriage last for 70 years? This is the advice Shirley and Francis have for people.

"The key word is work. So many marriages, they don’t work... and they just throw up their hands and say it’s over. When a problem comes up, it needs to be talked through. It’s 100% effort from both people, it's not 50-50. You have to work at it," said S. Mather.

"It all comes down to the foundation that you have. Marriage is a wonderful thing, as long as Christ is in it, and we know what it would be without Him. When you’re married and you’ve got problems, let’s work them through," said F. Mather.

And at the end of every day, the couple always makes sure to say goodnight and 'I love you', and gives each other a kiss before bed.

The Mather's plan to rest up for their big anniversary on Tuesday and will celebrate by going out to Red Lobster for dinner.