Marriage Vows

Forty six years ago Rose and I stood and made a sacred vow in front of God, a preacher, and an audience of several hundred people. We promised to “love & cherish each other till death do us part”. That vow has been tested many times, but it has helped us to not forget that we made that vow to God.

“…who leaves her husband, the closest friend of her youth,

and forgets her marriage vows to her God.”

Pro 2:17 GW

A beautiful young woman with long blond hair, blue eyes, and soft skin with no blemishes came to America from Sweden. She was raised by good Christian parents and received Christ at a very young age. Her friends said they never heard Lynda speak a harsh word about anyone. She dated the same young man in her freshman year of college till she graduated and they waited to have sex till they were married. They made these vows to each other one week after graduating from college.

In the presence of God and these witnesses, I take you to be my (wife/husband), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part.

The newly married couple loved to walk and exercise together, go on bike rides, go to movies, eat pizza, and all the things a normal couple would do with each other. Lynda taught school for a year and then became a surgical supply company’s bookkeeper. One day while working, she lost her balance and fell with no apparent reason. The next day she fell again, but this time was unable to get up. She lost all feeling in her legs and couldn’t move them. Her husband d came to the office and picked her up in his arms to carry her to a hospital. There the doctor diagnosed her as having Multiple Sclerosis. This couple, who had only been married 18 months, had all their future plans changed. For the next 30 years Lynda’s bones became brittle and broke easily. Her beautiful face became puffy and bloated. She went from a walker to an electric scooter, to a wheelchair. She could no longer feed herself, write her name, or control her bodily functions. She now needed 24 hours a day care from someone. Lynda’s husband said, “Had we not had a relationship and commitment to Jesus Christ and to each other, our marriage would never have lasted.” Very few mates stay with a spouse when the MS patient moves into those terribly difficult physical, psychological, and mental stages. Lynda’s husband David said, “We are not super saints or super Christians. Lynda & I are normal, ordinary people, empowered by God to do what God has called every Christian to do. God expects every one of his children to keep our marriage vows we made before Him on our wedding day”.

Selah

Al Yoder

11/2/2012