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When Daddy Head and I stood before family and friends on August 4 of 2007, we spoke the traditional vows at our covenant ceremony. We had spent weeks in pre-marital counseling with our pastors, his parents, and we were well versed in what we were committing to. We broke down every statement and knew that what we were saying could not be taken lightly.
And over the course of our 5 1/2 year marriage, one part of our vows has truly been put to the test:
In sickness and in health.
- When it took me 10 months to get pregnant for the first time.
- When our daughter was diagnosed with a rare form of seizures, Infantile Spasms, at 5 1/2 months and doctors said she may never live a normal life.
- When I became pregnant with our second child right in the midst of Lilibeth’s health battle.
- When Lilibeth because so malnourished due to a side effect of her seizure medicine and my lack of breast milk that we almost lost her.
- When I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes during my second pregnancy.
- When Ryan was born with Down syndrome.
- When doctors said Lili may never talk.
- When I gained entirely too much weight during my third pregnancy and was diagnosed glucose intolerant or pre-diabetic.
And these are just the big things! Each of them tested our faith in our God and our faith in one another.
Just recently, I was reminded of the weight of these words as we have been battling over my husband’s health. What appears to have been a viral infection followed up by strep throat has left my husband continually sick for nearly a month.
Every morning I wake up hoping that today is the day he will feel better. And every morning I am told he still feels run down, sick and tired.
But I am choosing to love him. I cut a covenant with him on that beautiful day in August and I promised him that in sickness and in health I would be here.
It gets hard, yes, especially when Lili has been whining and Ryan is dealing with a fungal infection. Or when I am in the midst of night weaning the baby and could really use a nap.
But part of being a unit is working together. When one struggles, the other takes up the slack. Daddy Head has done it for me so many times and we have done it together over the health of our children. And I will continue to do it for him until that morning when he wakes up better, and every day beyond that.
Why?
Because that is what a covenant is. It is committing to something and never ever backing down. It is making the ultimate promise with no ability of being broken.
When Jesus came to this earth, he cut a covenant with us on the cross, and since my marriage is to be a living example of His relationship with the church, it is my desire to walk out every statement that I made on that August day.
Plus, love is not just a feeling. It is a choice. And, honestly, the choice is easy when your husband is as good as mine is!
Let’s talk:
- What part of your marriage vows have you seen significantly played out in your marriage?
- Have you been facing any battles lately that I can sow some prayer for you over?
- Will you take a moment and pray for our little family, especially that Daddy Head would get better?
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