For Better or Worse

Malachi 2:16 “For I hate divorce!” says the Lord, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.”

“I take you. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish 'till death do us part. And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness.” These are traditional marriage vows. 

I met a woman this past week who worked in a home housing people suffering with Alzheimer's. She told me a story of a woman she took care of. This woman could no longer preform daily functions. She no longer recognized the people she loved, including her husband. She told me how the husband came to the home everyday to be with his wife. He would sit with her and hold her hand and talk to her. He would feed her and tend to her needs. Everyday he came, “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish ‘till death do us part.” This man took his vows seriously he stood by his wife until the day she died. 

My parents were married for 56 years. In those 56 years they raised 4 children. My mom would tell you, at times it was great and at times it was extremely hard. “For better for worse, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish ‘till death do us part. When my dad was dying my mom was right there beside him walking with him through the final stage of his life. 

Twelve years ago my marriage ended in divorce. It seemed like the easy way out for both of us. It turned out to be anything but easy. There has been immeasurable pain for our two children and for both my ex-wife and myself. If you could have do-overs in life this would be mine. I have found the words of Malachi to be painfully true.

Billy Graham said this after his wife’s death. "I am so grateful to the Lord that He gave me Ruth, and especially for these last few years we've had in the mountains together. We've rekindled the romance of our youth, and my love for her continued to grow deeper every day. I will miss her terribly, and look forward even more to the day I can join her in Heaven."

February 14th Valentine’s Day, a day to celebrate love and marriage, a day to, “Rekindle the romance of your youth.” God said, “Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.”