T
hese words have been used so often anyone
can recite them. You hear them during weddings
when couples lovingly recite the words to each
other. At this time it often does not take much effort
for the starry eyed bride to unthinkingly say the
words. Or for the groom to excitedly repeat them,
either. Yet how often do the real implications of
the vow the two are making to each other dawn
on them at that time? I would say that the reality
of the whole commitment to each other does not
hit them until they are well over the honeymoon
phase and are then facing real life issues head on.
Love
To explain these three mysteries of the commitment
of love, I am going to give details of the true
meaning of each of the elements mentioned.
Every couple promises to love each other at the
altar before God and man yet not many of them
even stop to think of the commitment that this adds
to their lives. Love is the most beautiful feeling in
the world and anyone who has had the privilege of
having a taste of it will agree with me. Most people
would give anything to have that one person who
makes the world seem all glossy and beautiful
when seen through the eyes of love. Nothing
beats being with that special person who makes
you feel as if you are walking on wings by virtue of
their being in your life. It is a proven fact that every
human being is born with the need to love and be
loved. It seems this search takes much of some
people’s lives while others are blessed enough to
find their partner much earlier in life.
The reality of love however comes in the wake of
knowing your partner well enough after marriage.
Once the flaws of your partner start to surface, you
realize that you have to live them your entire life
if he/she is unwilling to change. It is important for
me to mention that any efforts to change a person
often end in futility and disappointment, as it is only
God who can change a person. As Christian’s it is
thus important to engage God in our marriages so
that he can fix those areas that require changing
in our partners and ourselves.
When making the marriage commitment, we
pledge to love our partners in all times and seasons
of life. What this means is that we then commit
to love them despite what comes our way in life.
It is easy to love each other when things are all
rosy and well but those times when trouble comes
knocking require an extra measure of grace to do
that. Every marriage has some difficult times when
the furthest thing in the mind of the couple is love.
During those times there is need to remind oneself
of the commitment entered on the wedding day
and then engage the help of God to triumph over
the trials. God is the author of marriage and has
the blueprint for the success of the institution,
which is the Holy Bible.
I Peter 4:8 says,