09/06/2022
The true beauty of a wedding is not found in its floral arrangements, extravagant attire, venue, or cuisine. What makes a wedding beautiful is the love it represents and the promises the bride and groom make to uphold their love for the rest of their lives.
Vows matter. Commitments matter. And covenant matters. The vows said at the altar during a wedding ceremony aren't just said as a formality, they serve a purpose. They serve as concrete reminders when love feels hard—they're landmarks in marriage's deserts, pointing us down a life-giving, love-sustaining path of covenantal love.
We've realized that one key to sustaining love is to remember our vows of love and take them seriously.
Ask yourself: What does it mean to "have and to hold, through sickness and health, for richer and for poorer, for better and for worse, until death do us part?" What do those words truly mean?
It's for the sick, poor, and worse times that wedding vows are written because it's during those times when they're needed most. And that's what makes marriage such a beautiful, sanctifying gift from God.
It's in our sickness, our poverty, and our worst that we need love most. And here's the thing, receiving love during those times is when we're transformed. That's the essence of the Gospel, and that's how marriage reflects it.
Remember your vows. Live by them—especially when it feels hard. That's why they exist! Remember that your vows should mean something; they exist to sustain you when love feels hard and carry you to the other side, and in that, they exist for your good and God's glory.
Stay fierce,
Ryan & Selena