The 1828 edition of Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language has this to say on the word vow
2. A solemn promise; as the vows of unchangeable love and fidelity. In a moral and religious sense, vows are promises to God, as they appeal to God to witness their sincerity, and the violation of them is a most heinous offense.
OK so here goes today I celebrate my 26th year of marriage. My bride of 26 years and I went to dinner last night and spent some "quality" time together. With 4 children, a house, work and needs all around us a few hours out is quite an accomplishment.
As I look back over the 28 years I have known my wife I am struck by the fact that marriage is more than "just love". I believe love is the part that brings a guy and gal together. Love is that initial catalyst that causes a guy and gal to desire to be with the other. But love is often the first wound suffered as a result of a disagreement. It is those disagreements that cause us to realize the other person is just that a person. Not the intoxicating object we first encountered.
Then life happens and there are many opportunities to realize your mate is a real person with real needs, real issues, and real hang-ups. Your mate has positions, objectives, desires that are different than yours.
So here are two individuals who don?t agree on ?an issue? and love is the first injury. So what keeps a couple together? Well reflecting on the initial love that brought a guy and a gal together can help. I have found that being committed to the mate is critical for the marriage to survive the challenges of a life together.
In my humble opinion reflecting back on the initial commitment made on the day the couple takes their wedding vows. If you believe the 1828 Webster?s definition then the breaking of the wedding vow is "a most heinous offense."
The vow of commitment:
" I, (Bride/Groom), take you (Groom/Bride), to be my (wife/husband), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part."
Is as important or more important then the feeling of love that initially brought a couple together. The commitment is the work that makes the ?feeling? one of joy.
So here we are coming down the home stretch. I celebrate 26 years of a commitment to my wife today. Yes I love her, and yes that love has been reflected upon during times of "troubles" More than that I have sworn a vow of commitment that says I will at all cost hold her above all others until death do us part.
It has been a great 26 years. Those 26 years have had their challenges. But I gave my word; I swore a vow before God and man that says I will commit myself to her. It isn't just love, it is work, fun, sadness, joy, and it is living life as a team. Each year we team together we get a little better at it. So off we go on to year 27 as a couple and I am sure life will be lived this year. It will be nice to live it with my friend, my wife, my lover.
2 comments:
thank you for your commitment. I remember the day of the vows, I recall repeating them throughout the years and yes, we have, some days clung to them with stubborness when ignoring them would have been easier. Yet those days are less than the days of delight, memory building and loving interaction and joy and delight. Its been a good year, thanks for the date, the sweet reminder of your commitment and the investment of your time... the greatest testimony of your love.
Thank you also for your honor... that which causes you to continue to defend, elavate and bless me above all. I am awed when you draw your "sword" to defend my honor, when you remind the youngins that it is your "girlfriend" that they are speaking to. How did I marry up so well???
you delight me so many ways and I look forward to what lies ahead my knight in shining armor!
Nice to see it does still exist in this world of "me, me, me..." and more me....Congratulations and may your journey continue to be one of learning and growing, never to get stale...somehow, I don't think that will happen to my long lost and recently found friends......
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