People
seemed to have a lot of thoughts after church today- many of them inspired by
the wedding vows that I read before the lighting of the Christ Candle.
I
had commented on the vows that a 23 year old groom offered his bride at a wedding
on Saturday – vows that included:
I
take your hand, body and soul in marriage today….
I
take them with the goal of bettering myself as man
and us as a couple
I
take them with the promise of new adventures
And good days on the horizon.
I
promise to be worthy of your love,
To be kind, patient and forgiving.
I
promise to be everything you've ever wanted
and everything you expect me to be…
(this
was about ¼ of the total vow).
I
think that that kind of unfettered, joyous desire to give a lover everything, even beyond reason, is
the treasure and privilege of being 23. (maybe even the responsibility)
After the wedding 5 men (including myself), all with more than 20 years of marriage, suggested that 23 year olds should be mentored in writing their vows, by those who have married for at least 20 years. Together, as we sipped prosecco and toasted the happy couple, we came up with what we would consider real wedding vows:
I
promise to love you
and
keep trying when I get it wrong.
I
promise to never tell you “to relax”
I
promise to not make fun of your favourite TV shows.
I
promise to never make faces when going to visit your family.
I
promise to let you complain about your mother
without joining in.
I
promise to understand that when our first child arrives,
I will no longer be number one in your life.
I
promise that, when our third child arrives,
I will be happy with being anywhere in the
top 10.
I
promise to not hold grudges,
never keep score
and accept forgiveness graciously.
I
promise to keep laughing… at myself… at
us…. at life…
but
always with you.
So,
what would you include in your wedding vows if you could go back in time???
