Vigilant

Marriage has changed for me since that day almost fourteen years ago when I said, "I do."

On August 31, 1996, I agreed to a long list of promises.  "To love as God loves me.  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 cherish till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance." 

We have it hanging on the wall in our bedroom.  So we don't forget.

But sometimes I think that the bedroom is perhaps the easiest place to remember those promises.  So maybe I should hang it in the kitchen where I make chicken soup when he's sick.  Then I could remind myself how excited I was that day in August when I made the promise to cherish him.  Even when he lays in bed all day with a box of kleenex and the television remote.  (I am not very merciful with my husband when he's sick.  Sad.  But true.)  Or maybe I should hang it by the computer where we pay the bills and work out the monthly budget.  So I remember how delighted I was on my wedding day when I promised to have him and to hold him no matter what kind of cars we drive.  Or how many times he takes me out to eat.

Because when I'm excited about something, it's easy to serve.  But when the stomach flu and job-changes and children's schedules enter in, the promise gets harder to keep.  And the faithfulness has to kick in when the fresh excitement steps out.

That's why I've taken on this new vigilance challenge. 

According to http://www.dictionary.com/, vigilance means, "keenly watchful to detect danger; wary: a vigilant sentry. ever awake and alert; sleeplessly watchful." 

If I am truly going to keep these vows that I made that sunny day in August when I was all dressed up and beautiful,  with all of my loved ones looking on, then I have to stay "keenly watchful to detect danger."  I have to be "ever awake and alert."  I can't let up even for a minute.

Something about that sounds so . . . tiring.  And, in all truth, I can not do it.  To some extent because I'm a wuss who tires easily.  But, more than that, because I am human.  But the good news is that if I humbly look to the very God Who created marriage, He'll give me whatever it takes to do it.  He'll show me how to be vigilant in my marriage.  1 Peter 5:5-7 says,

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

Then, right after that it says, the "enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

In other words, even though there is an enemy who vigilantly looks for ways to destroy us (and our marriages, I believe), if I recognize that I've got nothing to get this done right, and then, with that very attitude, I look to the very God Who created marriage, the very One Who gave my husband to me, He will take care of it.  I just gotta' ask Him.  And listen to Him through His Word.

So my vigilance includes my commitment to learn God's ways.  And to do what He says.  Which includes serving my husband.  And keeping my vows.  It's truly the only real hope there is. In marriage. In life.  And especially in vigilance.


So, how about linking up with me today in your vigilance as a wife? Can't wait to read what you write...

**If this is your first time linking up, please read this first.**
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