Till Death Do Us Part

by Peggy Brown

Last weekend, I was privileged to go to the wedding of a young man who was a friend of our son in High School. One summer, while he was in college, he lived with us, so now he’s not just my friend, but he’s one of a group of boys I have “adopted” over Ryan’s growing up years! (I call myself their “other mother”).

The wedding was very fun, simple and beautiful, but at the same time quite serious. But then again, I guess all Christian weddings are serious because they are a reminder of the vows I took at my own wedding. You know…for better, for worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health till death do us part. (I know there are updated versions, but hey, I was married the year they wrote the King James Bible!) Isn’t it interesting that even in our wedding vows we acknowledge that there will be hard times?

I can’t help but thinking about the bride and groom standing at the altar in beautiful clothes, in a lovely outdoor location. As they were looking into each others eyes, I was praying for them. I prayed that they would be blessed by God in their marriage. I prayed that they would have ministry. And of course I prayed that they would be happy.

Fast forward a week and in church Pastor Tim preaches on marriage. One man, one woman, “till death do us part”. He called it a covenantal relationship. I like that. Then he said something that I had never thought about. He said, “Marriage doesn’t exist to make us feel good, but to make God look good.”

Marriage isn’t about being happy, it’s about making God look good…but LIFE really isn’t about being happy, is it? This week has been a reminder to me that every part of my life is supposed to make God look good.

I read in John Piper’s book The Dangerous Duty of Delight that our life is designed to be all about magnifying Christ’s glory. He said that there are 2 types of magnification; one type is a microscope, you put something tiny under the lens and it looks bigger than it really is. The other is a telescope, you focus the lens on something gigantic (like a star) which looks tiny and it makes the object look more like it really is. My duty, according to Piper, is for every part of my life make God look more like He really is to anyone who is watching.

Consider:

1 Corinthians 10:31

"Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

John 12:24

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."

I am thankful for the happiness in my life, don’t misunderstand me. But I am so challenged (you know, I am a professional whiner!) to see my life as a telescope and be thankful and joyful for every circumstance of it. I’m sure that whining dims the view from the telescope, don’t you think?

Jesus, You are amazing! You have done everything for me. It is by Your grace alone that I have eternal life. It IS all about You. Grow me up in my faith so that I will choose to be a telescope in every circumstance in my life…joyfully! I want to make you look good in my marriage and beyond. Please give me the eternal perspective that it takes to be that grain of wheat, willing to die to myself to bear much fruit for Your glory. Amen

Marriage Marathon

Marriage Marathon

Sue Donaldson

June is Wedding Month. I don’t know why exactly. Maybe it goes along with Graduation Month – smart kids wait until they are finished with college before embarking on the next adventure – the adventure of a lifetime, here’s hoping and praying.

My folks didn’t wait until after dad was finished with college. He had a job and $200.00 and in 1939, that was enough. So, on this last May 6, they celebrated their 69^th Anniversary (no, that is not a typo.) Aren’t they cute in this vintage photo?

They met four years earlier – in church. Mom, at 16, was at the Sunday School registration table, and took note of the handsome older man (18). She and her girlfriend made a bet as to who he would ask out first. Mom won.

They courted for four years. Mom said she was hesitant because she wasn’t sure Dad really knew the Lord, as Savior – “I was afraid he was just a pew-warmer because his folks had raised him in church.” When she was finally convinced, she said “yes,” and the rest is history – a long history – including Dad returning to college, they having 5 kids, now 18 grandchildren – our Mary Grace is the last – and a zillion great-grandchildren. Dad has a list – in his front pocket, so he can keep track and brag to the world.

I tell my children that this marriage commitment is a modern miracle. We have unusual roots. My folks tell us it’s all God’s grace, and they are right. They were faithful to God and to each other, and it took grace.

Psalm 128 reads: “Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways. . .may the Lord bless you, and may you live to see your children’s children.”

At 91 and 89, Dad and Mom are blessed – they’ve seen their grands and greats – two more are due this year. What’s their secret? They would say it’s hanging in there over the long haul. Marriage is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. It’s not the speed of the race, it’s enduring til the finish line. They are still in the race, in spite of themselves. And we are blessed.

Dear God,

Sometimes we want to get out of the race. It’s too hard. We can no longer see the finish line. We might not even care about the finish line. Besides, we’re too sweaty and we hurt and life has sidelined us and-- who is this person I sleep with, anyway???

Please help. We need an energy bar from your Spirit. We need to want to be faithful. We need You, period.

And, thanks for helping Mom and Dad all these years. It’s kind of funny that they still bicker – comforting, in a strange way. May I see my children’s children, in spite of myself.

Love, Sue