A friend of mine recently celebrated 52 years of marriage. He commented in an e-mail that someone asked him how they had managed to stay together for that many years. His answer, “I promised.” “I promised to be faithful and to love in sickness and in health, whether rich or poor.” In other words the promise was not conditioned by changing circumstances.
Kim and I have been married for a mere 38 years but we have stayed together for the same reason. We promised. We stood in front of a couple of hundred people and in the presence of God and we promised.
My friend and his wife and Kim and I are no more special than anyone else. We simply made a promise. My concern is that we live in a culture that is growing in its disregard for commitment to one’s word. This disregard for one’s word has caused us not to trust. Without trust – without integrity, relationships are shaky at best.
I am thankful I made a promise 38+ years ago – not because it has always been easy but because it was right and because the tough times have helped us grow and take our relationship deeper. The promise gave us the security to experience the tough times with honesty. Because of the promise, we have grown in a safe place.
