Ruth loved Naomi so much that when Ruth's husband died she followed her mother-in-law back to her home land. Although Naomi told her not to, Ruth went anyway telling her " Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried." (Ruth 1:16-17)
When we marry we say those vows that are common to every wedding.
I, (name) take thee, (name) to be my wedded (husband/wife),
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, 'til death do us part,
according to God's holy ordinance;
thereto I plight thee my troth.
(Thereto I pledge my love).
Now how many of us actually think about these vows when we say them. I can honestly say I didn't. But when I look back on the meanings behind these words they make me so much happier that I did.
Let's flashback almost 7 years ago. I was a giddy 18 year old getting married to a Marine! Yes, I was in love with him and nothing could have made me happier than taking his last name. But I didn't think about those words. All I was thinking about was who was standing in front of me and he was going to be mine. HA ladies, he's off the market. You can't have him.
Now flashforward to almost 7 years later, 2 kids and another one on the way, a dog, house payment, car payment, loans, bills, debt, the list goes on and on. I am upholding my vows to my husband. Honor, cherish, richer, poorer, sickness, health and of course that list goes on and on too. But here's the kick in the butt that I got today: AM I REALLY FOLLOWING ALL THESE VOWS?
Am I honoring him the way I should? How about cherishing him? Sure I got the sick and health one down as well as the richer or poorer but what about those 2? Cherish? Sure I love everything that he does for me and the kids. Is that cherishing? How about bringing him honor? Am I holding myself up to the level that I know he is looked upon. Am I setting the example and being the good wife that represents my husband?
Ok now here's the kicker than you didn't necessarily say in your vows. To follow. I didn't say lead. I said follow. Husbands are suppose to be Christ-like in the sense that they are to love their wives like Christ loves the church. The church is to follow Christ. Ladies, let your husband be the leader in your home. I myself have had the Lord convict me of this many times and I have finally gotten to the point where I know I must step back and let him lead.
