Have you ever really thought about the marriage vows that people say on their wedding day? They pledge to stay for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part…Think about these two examples of marriage and their commitment to the vows they made.
There was a woman who fell in love with a man who had brain cancer. He was given a short time to live and they both knew that if they married, it would be a brief marriage with a lot of heartache. Yet, she married the man she loved, took him to doctor’s appointments, sat in the hospital with him as the cancer was having its way in his body, and held his hand as he stepped from this life into the next. She took her vows “in sickness and in health” to heart and trusted that the memory of their love and her trust in the Lord would sustain her long after he was gone. Now, there was another couple whose marriage began with troubles and trials. They married young with little to their names, but they had love, so they thought they could survive anything. As the years went on, their money problems increased and they did nothing to try and seek help. They became resentful of each other, and even though they committed to stay together for richer and poorer, they gave up and went their separate ways.
Both couples endured hardships, but one chose to honor their commitments and trusted the Lord, while the other one gave up when times were tough. God is the only one who can help you honor your spouse. He is the one who will carry you on this journey.