During the couples retreat over the last weekend, Jeff seriously wrote all these down (as suggested by our guest speaker, Rev. Lewis Mc Clendon) upon waking up after just about 4 hours of sleep. (we stayed at Ted & Rose’s room until around 1:30 a.m., together with our friend Alvin, and stayed there and talked till there’s no tomorrow. Our good friend Ana as updated as ever, joined in via speakerphone, and boy were we glad!
You see, I wouldn’t have minded if he didn’t write these all down, because I didn’t bother writing mine.
So, before I get this vow misplaced and forgotten, I’m posting it verbatim . . . with feelings. The feelings part may not be as tangible as I wish it to be, but allow me to take care of that.
Pastor Lewis provided the main phrases of the traditional wedding vows and we were asked to fill in as how we would give them to our spouse in practical and as measurable as can be. As sleepy as I was on the 7 plus am Sunday morning, I wasn’t able to hold back the emotions as I read on his vows.
While ours is not a perfect marriage, I know I couldn’t wish for a more perfect match than my Jeff. And by the way, I know he’s forgiven my not doing my own renewal of vows. For one, I stand before man and God as I continue on fulfilling my original vows to him when we got married, almost 6 years ago today.
JEFF’S MARRIAGE VOWS
I TAKE THEE TO BE MY LAWFULLY WEDDED HUSBAND/WIFE
I take you as my wife, and I pledge myself to be yours and yours alone. I give myself to you as your husband, as the law – as set by God – has set. I promise to be exclusively yours – and I give my whole being to you – which I promise not to share with anyone else. I promise to be faithful to you.
TO KEEP FROM THIS DAY FORWARD
I make this re-commitment to you today, Oct. 27, 2007, and I will keep this commitment with God’s help and with all my will and strength and abilities. I will fight anything or anyone including myself that will keep me from fulfilling this promise.
FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE
And I promise to do this whatever the circumstances are. I will not slacken my commitment to you even when things start to become better between us and I will hold on tighter when things don’t go well in our marriage – I will stay on.
IN JOY OR SORROW
Even when the laughter and happiness start to turn into tears and sorrow, I will always find the joy in the fact that you were given to me by God, and will be forever thankful that you chose me – that privilege will be the joy that will remain.
FOR RICHER OR POORER
Whatever our financial circumstances are I will still keep this commitment knowing that we don’t have to worry because God is faithful and will provide for us whatever we need.
IN SICKNESS AND HEALTH
I promise to take care of you even when my body or your body starts to grow old and begin to fail – I’ll find a way to give to you what you need, emotionally, physically and spiritually.
TO LOVE AND CHERISH
I pledge to love you unconditionally and show this in practical, tangible ways. I will set my heart on no one else but you.
TILL DEATH DO US PART
And I give these vows to you and promise to fulfill them over my dead body, until the day the Lord takes me…
ACCORDING TO GOD’S HOLY WORD
…with the Bible as our foundation, knowing that apart from Him, I can do nothing. I love you, Jennie.
