Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Proverbs 1:8 (06/01/23)
-
TITLE: A Son Asks To Hear | Previous Challenge Entry
By Linda Lawrence
06/03/23 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
Carl and I renewed our vows on our 20th anniversary and our children were part of that celebration. Besides our original traditional vows, we wrote new vows based on strengths and weaknesses we had discovered in ourselves and each other.
Carl drew from his biblical understanding and experience from our marriage to write Sean’s vows. I drew from my knowledge of Sean and Crystal to write her vows. This was a soul-searching time for both Carl and me—an opportunity to instruct and teach from our own hard-won marriage.
Carl’s words for Sean reflected his idealism when it came to marriage.
I promise, Crystal, to commit myself to love you as Jesus Christ loves His Church . . .
I promise I will rejoice in our sameness and be nurtured by our differences.
Before the Lord, I will always remain faithful to you. You will be my best friend . . . and I promise that the relationship will only become more intimate, with no secrets or surprises to harm that relationship.
I will never stop discovering and nurturing your deepest needs.
I will listen to your words, but also to your heart propelling those words . . .
I will never let the sun go down on my anger, or bury unresolved conflict in my pillow—nor let the sun rise without rising with it with a heart full of thanksgiving for the gift you are to me.
I will be generous in my compliments, and miserly in my criticism.
In times of trouble, I will ask more than how this trouble hurts you, but what does it do to the heart of He who brought us together.
My words for Crystal reflected my own idealism and what I learned from her about her heart’s desires, before she and Sean were engaged.
Sean, as you made yourself vulnerable and open to me, I knew I could safely trust you with my heart. Therefore, unafraid, I promise that with God’s help I will always be your best friend and loyal helper. I promise to pray for you and trust God to give you the wisdom needed to be the leader in our home. As you let God lead you, I will gladly follow.
May I not confuse the God-shaped vacuum in my spirit with the Sean-shaped hole in my soul. I commit myself to panting after God first, while growing toward oneness with you.
I promise to love you and be faithful to you as long as we both live.
Whatever God chooses for us—sickness or health, children or childlessness, financial comfort or struggles, celebrations or disappointments—I promise to laugh and cry with you.
I want to make our home a refuge, a place where you can always find comfort and encouragement. Though I sometimes feel fragile, my heart’s desire is to be strong for you—to draw from your strength and to give you strength.
But Sean, I know I can only live up to these promises and intents of my heart if I get my strength from the Lord. So I promise to keep close to Him, always loving Him—for He only makes me love you more and more.
If we fail in our good intentions, I promise to forgive you and to forgive myself and to accept God’s forgiveness and get back on track as soon as I can.
So your heart is safe in mine. I’m proud to become your wife.
Carl and I were amazed, but delighted, that they embraced our offering. Of course, even Carl and I could not live up to all these ideals. Looking back, the best we can claim to have fulfilled is faithfulness and forgiveness. However, we hoped and prayed the Holy Spirit would carry Sean and Crystal further than our instruction and example.
Ultimately, all our hope and trust is placed on God’s proven promises of His faithfulness and forgiveness.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
