Vows

Proverbs 20:25 " It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy and after the vows to make inquiry."

My Anniversary was this week. I am reminded that 44 years ago, I stood before people who came to witness my vows. I recall, also, inviting God to be present at that ceremony. Those same people are still my friends today and I am still inviting God to be present in my life. I am thinking I still have great accountability to those witnesses so many years ago.

Those vows were a deliberate, free promise to my chosen life mate. I was also seriously committing to a covenant (legal agreement) that I would stand by this man "in sickness, in health, for rich, for poor, for better, or for worse,  til death do us part."

Whoever initiated those words probably felt they needed to sound poetic for the couple standing  entranced in a romantically charged atmosphere,  not having a clue where the road ahead will lead. And that's okay. What they really need to be very sure of is that they are committing to ride together wherever the road leads and as long as either of them are alive to travel.

I am so grateful that we chose to keep our ceremony simple and desired a strong spiritual emphasis. I wanted people to walk away from my wedding with the comment, " What a beautiful  sacred ceremony!" than one where they felt overwhelmed with the beauty of the wedding but didn't feel it was necessarily spiritual.

I do not regret my vows. I listened closely to them and joyously repeated them. And with all my heart, I also sang the vow  in song: "Whither Thou Goest I Will Go."

It has not been the legal covenant or the paper marriage licence I signed that has kept me faithful to my marriage. It has been the vows I spoke before God and those witnesses that day. I have chosen to never "make inquiry" or question them.

I like the good times. I don't like the bad times. A marriage has both. But I am committed to all times. I vowed to love and cherish my husband til death parts us. I still do.