My Vows
I wanted to share this with you on our 15th year anniversary, but I did not have a copy with me in Aruba, plus the server was down at the resort. When Tonia and I were married 15 years ago, on the 10th day of July, 1994 @ 3:25 p.m., this is what I said to my bride:
To the beautiful one I stand before
It is you and you alone
I promise to love, cherish and adore
I make a solemn but joyful pledge this day,
before God and men
to love you in every way
It’s a love that is not wrapped in empty words,
but one that is seen
and not just heard
My vow this day is to provide and give
And a godly life before God, you and our children,
I will strive to live
I promise to wrap your delicate frame
in my arms when you are confused and afraid
and constantly remind you that His grace
is greater than our need.
I vow to look to and depend on the Lord of Hosts
and when an army of troubles come
in His power I will boast.
My love is tainted and incomplete
But in our most difficult times, when it will be hard to love,
I promise his love and grace we will seek.
I promise to trust Christ to guide the vessel of our marriage safely to port
Because never a mission have I known him to fail or abort
In the mind of God, from the very start,
Man and wife should become one flesh and never part.
So, to you and you only I will now cleave
and vow this day, except for death, to never leave
So when eyes are dimming and hair is graying
May I be found ever saying
I’m committed, to thee alone, I’m committed
When steps are shortened and beauty fading,
May I be found ever saying
I’m committed, to thee alone, I’m committed.
When these eyes are forever closed and my life’s breath cease,
May the testimony of my life be:
He was committed. To her alone, he was committed.
Over the last fifteen years, I have attempted to be faithful to live out these vows. But, I know I have failed, many times, (more than I care to recall), in living up to these lofty words. Today, I am working harder and harder to live in obedience to God’s role for me as a husband and embody these words that I spoke over 15 years ago.
What vows – marital or otherwise – have you made? Are you living up to the vows you made? What’s been the most difficult and the most rewarding part in living up to the vows you made?
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August 7th, 2009 at 9:56 am
awesome man! think i need to rewrite mine asap
August 7th, 2009 at 11:53 am
our vows were really simple:
i will share my life with you
with open honesty, tolerance, kindness, persistence, and love
i give you my devotion
i take you as my spouse and give myself to be yours
seems to be working, nine years
August 8th, 2009 at 9:09 am
My wife and I celebrated 18 years as of June 22nd. I find that committment to each other is essential but committment to God is paramount. My prayer when either I or my wife seemed to be unloveable is that God would love her through me. Just allow me to be the vessel and that His love would be made known. It is human nature to want to attempt to do it our way and it may work for a while but inevitably we will fall. Only doing the way the designer and instituter of marriage intended will yield the life long blessing that he ordained.
August 11th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Man, thanks for the encouragement. I appreciate you more than you know. Grace and peace.
August 11th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Wow! That's absolutely great. Very meaningful vows. Thanks for sharing this. Grace and peace.
August 12th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
I like your vows awesome, but marriage is hard work.I have been married for twelve years. Living up to the vows we made that I cant even recall.But I can say I have been faithful to him.The most difficult is dealing with a man who is about self these days.Marriage goes through different seasons. I guess with time everyone and everthing changes.You both look very happy whats your secret.
December 5th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Oh Yes, I remember those vows well, and I praise God for the fifteen years the two of you have keep your committment,. I know you count every failure, every act of forgiveness,all joy and know you are better as a husband fifteen years and three children later. To God be the Glory. Love you both dearly
December 5th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Patience, forgiveness, compromise, making sure love is a verb and not just a noun, and waking up every morning asking the Holy Spirit to control us so we can live out what it means to have a godly and healthy marriage. By no means is it easy. We work at it every day, dying to our own desires in order to please the other. Thanks for your insightful comments and your question. Blessings!
December 5th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Daisy, you are so right. I think i probably failed more than I have succeeded. It has taken work, forgiveness, compromise, laughter, tears, praying together, and a lot of dying to self. These days I am dying to live. Each day I remind myself or the Holy Spirit reminds me "today is a good day to die." A lot of days I do, and sometimes i am stubborn and it takes more than one time or even two times for Him to get through to me. We are in a good place these days, and I know it is partially because of your prayers and encouragement. Thank you. We love you dearly and will probably see you around Christmas.