With This Ring

Two years ago today, my beloved and I stood face to face to pledge our faithfulness to one another. I hadn't looked back at our vows much since then, so I thought it was fitting to dig them out and share them with our little circle of blog followers. :) We based them off a set of vows we found on the internet, but modified them so much that they're really our own. How long we spent laboring over these words together!
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John, do you covenant before God to be first and foremost the spiritual leader of your home, seeking God's kingdom and righteousness throughout your life together? I do.

Do you covenant before God to study your wife in order to know her disposition so that you will provide for her emotional, physical, mental, and most importantly her spiritual needs? I do.

To strive not to allow the sun go down on your anger? I do.

To be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving? I do.

And to obey God's command to love your wife as Christ loves His Church? I do

Gretchen, do you covenant before God to love John, to be sensible, pure, and a worker at home, that the Word of God may not be dishonored? I do.

Do you covenant before God to fulfill your role as your husband's helper, to recognize his

God-given responsibility and authority as the leader of your home, and to do John good and not evil all the days of your life? I do.

To strive not to allow the sun go down on your anger? I do.

To be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving? I do.

And to obey God's command to submit to your husband as the Church is subject to Christ? I do.

John, what token do you give as a symbol of your authority, strength, protection, and love? This ring.

With this ring, I thee wed;

I take thee, Gretchen, to be my wedded wife,

and do solemnly covenant before God and these witnesses

to love, cherish, protect, and provide for you unconditionally,

in sickness and in health,

for better or worse,

for richer or poorer,

and forsaking all others cleave only unto you,

as my lawfully wedded wife,

for as long as we both shall live,

so help me God.

Gretchen, what token do you give as a symbol of your submission to John’s authority, strength and protection, and your unselfish love to him? This ring.

With this ring, I thee wed;

I take thee, John, to be my wedded husband,

And do solemnly covenant before God and these witnesses

to love, honor and obey you unconditionally

in sickness and in health

for better or worse

for richer or poorer

and forsaking all others cleave only unto you,

as my lawfully wedded husband,

for as long as we both shall live,

so help me God.

(We'll finish up Gemma Grace's birth story very soon!)