Monday, January 28, 2013

When I Said I Do . . .


I remember the day well.

They say everybody is nervous on their wedding day, but I wasn't. Maybe I was stupid and didn't know what I was getting into, but I wasn't nervous. Not at all. I was so excited I could hardly take it. Our six month engagement seemed eternal. I was ready to start this life together already!

I took the commitment seriously. I did. We even wrote our own statements to add to the traditional vows. I listened intently to everything the pastor said, to everything Kevin said. I looked my future husband in the eye and meant it. I had no fear in being united with him. Before coming to the altar, Kevin and I shared MANY conversations about marriage being forever. We agreed divorce was not an option.

But were we too young and naive to know what we were agreeing to?

Not long after the wedding I saw a new side to him. He wasn't as particular with money as I was and that scared me a little. I remember thinking, "What have I gotten into here?!" Was I going to have the burden of being the responsible one? Could I count on him to provide? But I loved him and knew God had brought us together. I trusted if I did what was right in the eyes of God, He would make it good.

Kids came and I quit working. At the same time Kevin was establishing himself in his career. I was home with four kids and he was gone. A lot. It was easy to feel slighted, overlooked, unappreciated. There were LOTS of times I wanted to be gone when he got home, to make him worry about me for once, to escape the demands of small children and take some ME time. I longed to drop the kids off at one of our parents' houses and get lost without anyone knowing where I was. But I didn't. Because that would not be right. I loved him and knew God brought us together. I trusted God to make good of it.

We purchased a van from a crooked dealer. We felt threatened when properties around our house were bought up, pressuring us to sell cheaper than we could afford. Kids got sick. Medical bills mounted. Problems arose in extended families. Basically life kicked us in the pants and I thought back to how much we didn't know on our wedding day. Would I have been as excited knowing all this was in our future? Desire for escape built and I wondered how much easier life would be without this husband, this family. But I loved him and I knew with every fiber of my being God brought us together. So I stuck it out with him. I learned to trust my husband. I found reprieve in his arms instead of escaping to no one and no where. God made it good.

The commitment hasn't always been easy. For either of us. I've been no picnic to live with, let me tell you. My husband has had to muster unbelievable amounts of patience and grace. I believe our commitment has stuck not because we were so dedicated to one another, but because our first day together we pledged to each other and GOD. We committed to HIM first. When disappointments and disillusion and trouble came and we didn't feel like honoring each other, we remembered making vows before GOD. When it felt like the other didn't deserve the commitment, we knew God did. We've been able to persevere through the rough days knowing we promised God we would.

I wonder if that's where we're missing the boat in marriage these days. Are we committing to a person who likely will change and hurt and disappoint us, instead of committing to God who is the same forever? Is it easier to break a vow to a person who's hurt us than to God who makes all things good?

When I said I do, I was madly in love, eager to be Mrs. Boesiger. Committing to him that day was easy. I had no idea what troubles might be ahead. When they came, I remembered I made a promise to God and that is what spurred me to work harder, forgive and press on.

I love him (oh, how I love him) and know God has brought us together. Only He makes it good. Honoring our commitment to our God has made it so.

When trouble hits your marriage, what motivates you to stick it out?

If you like reading about marriage and how others make it work, click on over to Chrysalis and read more Marriage Monday posts.

10 comments:

Miriam Pauline said...

I never understood nervous on wedding day. I, too, was much to excited to be nervous.

This is a beautiful post my friend. Great description of how commitment weathers the rocky times. Bless you!

Denise said...

Such a lovely post.

Beth said...

Amen, Tami! This is exactly my heartbeat about marriage as well. If it weren't for God's grace and strength filling me up when the hard times hit, I'd have been divorced years ago. I'm grateful and encouraged to hear so many stories from other women who share this same commitment--not just to our spouses--but to our God! Makes me smile!

Constance said...

When it felt like the other didn't deserve the commitment, we knew God did.

WOW! I LOVE that! I think we DO forget sometimes that we mad a vow before God as well as to one another. I had times in my marriage when I felt the same way, wanting to give the other person a taste of what i was feeling. One day God spoke clearly to me and asked me,
"By nature, is Dave a self-centered person" The answer to that was an obvious NO, he had proven himself repeatedly especially in becoming an "instant Daddy" to my girls. I learned so much about grace in that simple question and it has stuck with me ever since!

Thanks for sharing from your heart!
Connie

GranthamLynn said...

Tami this was a very beautiful post. Thanks for sharing your heart. I wish I could write such wonderful words on the topic. I have just found this linky today and visiting all the wonderful posts. It was nice meeting you and visiting.
Have a wonderful week,
Sherry

Anonymous said...

These are honest (and encouraging) reflections on your long-term, successful marriage, TamiB. You sum it up so well: Our commitment to God trumps our commitment to our spouse. Trusting Him to make things right when things go awry in our marriage is really what our faith walk is all about. Well done!

Thanks for joining us for Marriage Monday today.

Hugs, e-Mom

nice A said...

Making a vow to God is such a thing I and my husband didn't seriously consider together as he was an unbeliever then. I paid the wages for violating God's command not to equally yoke with the ungodly. Now, I truly rejoice in God as hubby is a completely changed person. We decided to make our commitment with each other the way God wanted us to despite all our imperfections.

Thank you for your very encouraging post.

Faith said...

i loved reading this. I wasn't nervous either....just good ole excitement!!! (then again i was 30 so i was SOOOOO over the top happy that it was finally happening!!!!) i LOVE your honesty here about your feelings for wanting to run away...it's refreshing to read true honest feelings from other Christian ladies!!

Julie Arduini said...

I'm late to reading these, but so glad I am. We have the same idea. We made our commitment to God, making our marriage a covenant. I think it has made all the difference.

Blessings to you!

Furiaemnoiva said...

Thank yyou for sharing this