I just finished reading
the book “The Vow.” It was awesome! The book told the true life account of Kim
and Krickitt Carpenter… quite a bit different from the movie. Just a couple months after their wedding day
they were in a devastating car accident that left Krickitt with a massive head
injury and in a coma for weeks. On that
day the course of their lives was altered and would never be the same. Krickitt lost a part of her memory that she
would never regain… her dating, engagement, and marriage to her husband. Even though she didn’t remember this man who
seemed a stranger to her, her family and friends reassured her of her love for
him and the vows she had made. In the
midst of such extreme trauma to her brain her spiritual life seemed to remain in
tact… her connection with God was secure.
The road ahead for these newlyweds was one of a daily struggle, but
their commitment was for the long haul. They
both knew with God all things were possible!
Kim sought to make his wife fall in love with him all over again and she
did. They remarried about 2 ½ years after
their first wedding date, so Krickett could remember forever the day she made
her vows publicly to the man she loved.
What an amazing testimony of the great sacrifice, yet great reward of
keeping your vows.
I made a vow to my husband
on this day 20 years ago… our wedding day.
I made a life-long commitment to Al Davis, I said… “I, Julie,
take you Al to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold, for better or for
worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to
cherish, until death do us part, I will always be faithful to you, and from
this moment forward we shall be one.”
These vows that we make to our spouses are a serious
thing. The dictionary defines “vow” as… a solemn
promise, pledge, or personal commitment.
It’s not a promise to break, but a promise to keep. My commitment to my husband is for the long
haul… “in sickness and in health, for riches or for poorer, until death do us
part.” This is a commitment that is
important to me and one I want to keep!
I can honestly say I have tested almost all of the vows I
made over the years with my husband.
Sickness… yep. Poor… yep. Death… um, not yet? It hasn’t been easy. We have had to make a conscious choice to
stick with the relationship even when things got hard. When the stress is high, and the bank account
is empty… hold tightly on to each other.
When you are all run down with nothing left to give… stick to your
commitment… When you are at the end of
your rope and you don’t know what you are going to do… dig your heels in, link
arms, and face it together. You can make
it through anything with God’s help.
It is twenty years ago today I married my best friend and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. I love him more today than the day I married him. Our love over the years has grown to become more than words, it has developed into a love of action lived out on a daily basis.
Thank you, Al Davis for
being who you say you are all the time (a man of integrity). Thank you for being an amazing and loving
father to my boys. Thank you for working
jobs you hated to provide for our family.
Thank you for setting your dreams and passions aside to help me get
well. Thank you for generously forgiving
me when I hurt you with my words and trusting me with the secrets of your
heart. Your love for me fleshed out in
action as you cared for me when I was sick all of those years will forever be
etched in my heart. I will love you
forever!
Vows are a serious
thing. Shouldn’t we be just as serious
about our dedication to God? Isn’t it
supposed to be a life-long commitment?
Storms will come in our walk with God, but He is committed to weather
the storms with us. Link arms with Him
today. Love is a choice! I challenge you to make a vow to God… a
life-long, stick with it commitment to Him.
Just like a couple repeats vows on their wedding day, say these vows to
God today…
“I _______, take you, God
to be my heavenly father, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for
better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to
love and to cherish, until death do us part, according to your holy ordinance;
I pledge myself to you.”
My husband didn’t abandon
me because I got sick. I didn’t give up
on our relationship because we weren’t rich.
When we faced difficult times, overwhelming circumstances, or unplanned
obstacles, we didn’t give up… we linked arms and pushed through together. When Kim and Krickitt Carpenter faced
overwhelming odds, they pushed through and God did a miracle. Don’t give up so easily on God when things don’t
turn out the way you expected. He is in
this relationship for the long haul, are you?
Make that life-long commitment to Him today. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!
Living to leave a legacy,
Julie
