Promises!

Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your promises, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping. 1 Corinthians 16:14 The Message

In the early years of the 1970’s, Randy and I were both attending The University of Georgia. Although, we were friends, we had never dated at this point in our relationship. It was during this time that we watched with great interest as many of our friends gave or received a “promise ring”. The “promise ring” was very trendy, and it offered a way for those who were either too young to get engaged or those who just didn’t want to rush into marriage to continue their relationship.

A promise is defined as a declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing or that a particular thing will happen. Some who received the promise ring went on to get married, but for some of them, the promise of the ring never came to fruition.

In essence, marriage is a promise between two people built on love, faithfulness, and a mutual commitment which mirrors the relationship between Christ and the church. In the wedding vows, the couple promises to remain faithful in love and commitment by taking these vows:”I take you to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in heath, to love and to cherish from this day forward, and forsaking all others remain faithful until death do us part.”

Fifty three years ago this week, Randy and I stood before the altar at Friendship United Methodst Church in Donalsonville, and we took these vows. These are the promises that we made to each other before God, our loved ones, and our friends. At that time, we willingly and joyfully made these promises to each other never knowing what would lie ahead.

One of our minister friends told us on that day, “You think you know today what love is and what a promise means, but you will look back years later and realize that it takes years of being partners in your marriage to truly understand. The love you feel for each other today can not compare to the love you will feel in the later years.” I can attest that there were never truer words.

We started out without a clue where life would lead us, and it has led us in some pretty interesting places, times, and situations. It has never been perfect, but God has never ceased to amaze me! As Randy said when he “proposed,” You will never be rich, but I promise you will never be bored.

If I could add to the marriage vows today, I would use the words of Rob Flood. He says: With these words, I will seek to build you up rather than tear you down. With these words, I will do all that I can do to reiterate what you mean in a way that honors and respects you. With these hands, I will touch you caringly, seeking unity even through the hardest conversations. With these eyes, I will look on you tenderly, avoiding judgment 0r scorn. With these ears, I will listen intently to understand what you are trying to say. With this heart, I will seek to love the Lord first and foremost, loving you all the while. With these words, I will share grace, mercy, and forgiveness as it has been abundantly shared with me by our Savior. And with God’s help, our communication will draw us more closely together for the good of our home and the glory of God.

Someone once said that promises are made to be broken, but God is not like that person. What He says, He does, and that is a promise.

Mark Twain wrote these words about promises entitled These I Can Promise. I cannot promise you a life of sunshine; I cannot promise riches, wealth. or gold; I cannot promise you an easy pathway, That leads away from change or growing old. But I can promise you all my heart’s devotion; A smile to chase away your tears of sorrow; A love that’s ever true and ever growing; A hand to hold in yours through each tomorrow.

Happy Anniversary, Randy. I love you!