Valentine’s Day 2015
Forty two years, seven months, and 21 days ago, I spoke two words to a beautiful woman. Thankfully, she repeated them back to me. Though not an eloquent speech, these two simple words would shape the rest of our life together:
“I do.”
It was a great day. We both remember our faces hurting later from smiling so much. Within hours we were whisked away to a paradise flight that started our journey together. We had no idea where such journeys would take us through life: magnificent islands, stunning fjords, majestic mountains, amazing beaches, the rugged outback, active volcanoes, countless forests and meadows, and also the poorest of neighborhoods in devastated cities.
When we said “I do” to each other, we were also pronouncing these words to our future children and grandchildren. It remains a promise that love and faithfulness are for real. While we’ve desired to give ‘more’ to our children, the promise of “I do” was the gift that mom and dad were committed to each other and to them, always.
“I do” is as much a promise of commitment as it is a profession of love. The harsh reality is that we don’t always feel like loving and we aren’t always so lovable. Feelings wax and wane more than the moon. “I do” is not lived out perfectly in our marriage, our friendships, or our relationship with God. But faithfulness perseveres. In good times and troubled ones, faithfulness consistently speaks three words:
“I still do!”
“I do” signs the mortgage. “I still do” writes the checks.
“I still do” gets up when “I do” falls down.
“I do” gets tired. “I still do” presses on.
“I still do” speaks determination when “I do” doubts.
“I do” looks for good. “I still do” seeks the best.
“I still do” is a legacy commitment that looks beyond today.
“I still do” lights a candle wherever darkness falls.
“I still do” is the bedrock of God’s design for marriage. It brings us through the terrible twos and the troubled teens. It conquers where cancer corrupts. “I still do” fulfills when “I do falters.” God’s story consistently speaks, “I still do” to His people even when they are unfaithful. He’s saying it to you and me right now. He presents Jesus as our bridegroom and the church of true believers as the bride. When we say, “I believe” to God, we are really saying, “I will keep on believing” – “I still do”.
“I still do” is the daily payment on the promise note of “I do.” It is the test of truthfulness of the heart. “I still do” takes us from fairy tales to ‘for real’ ones. When “I do” fails, “I still do” becomes the promise of repentance, renewal, and restoration.
On this Valentine’s Day and always I’m saying, “I still do” to my bride. Let’s each of us as the bride of Christ say the same: “I still do.”
And then watch the love grow!
