Let's talk about VOWS

For whatever reason I have been really thinking about vows this week. The true meaning of them. All people who are married have said some form of them at some point, but I am curious to what people think they really mean.

This is what webster says a VOW means:
A vow (Lat. votum, vow, promise; see vote) is a promise or oath.

Wow...a promise or an oath.

Here is what my husband and I shared at our wedding...

I, Christopher Shane Watts, take Sally Lorraine Leo, to be my wedded Wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part,

I, Sally Lorraine Leo, take Christopher Shane Watts, to be my wedded Husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part

WHOA! "Did she really say OBEY?!?!"
Yup I sure did...

Here is what my vows meant to me:

I Sally Lorraine Leo, take Christopher Shane Watts, to be my sweet husband, to look after him and make sure he is taken care of, to be okay if his taste in food/music/style aren't always the same as mine, to pick up after him and make sure he has clean clothes, to love him even when I don't like him a whole lot, to take care of him when he is sick, though I may be much sicker, to be okay driving an old mini-van instead of a fancy sports car, to love our home whether it is big or small, to be okay if we have 100 children or none, to cherish the small things he does for me because those are what count, to honor his wishes about our future even when I may not understand or agree with them, to OBEY his vision for our family as my husband even when I may not want to, to follow him and be with him until death and only death parts us.

Interesting isn't it? When I said "I DO", I meant every word of it.

I'm sure most people start out that way. I don't think many people get married just so they can get divorced, but I wonder how many people ponder what they are saying when it is said.

So married couples, and couples thinking about getting married... I URGE you to consider what you are saying when you get married. Marriage isn't something to be taken lightly, it is a holy union, whether you intend for it to be or not!

God made many vows in the bible, as did Jesus. The bible is FULL of scriptures where vows were made for all sorts of things!

 

When we become christians we are in essesnce 'vowing' to devote ourselves to God, and living the life that Christ has called us to live. "I promise to give my life to you fully and to let you take control" Sounds like a vow to me...promise/vow go hand in hand.

What do/did your vows mean???