Wedding Vows

I had a great night, some friends asked me to help them renew their wedding vows. They were celebrating their 20th anniversary, so they gathered together some close friends, their four beautiful children, some great food and an amazing wine. John, the husband is a gifted vintner. (John, I must get the name of that wine)

Their house was decorated in white lights and candles. I used a brand new wine barrel as my pulpit. The symbolism was powerful, oak panels surrounded by solid rings ready to be filled with new wine encircled by light and fire.

It’s always moving to recite wedding vows in a room filled with married couples. I can see the words penetrate each heart as their minds wander back to their own wedding days. I particularly enjoy watching the bride and groom as they look into each others eyes. At this point in the ceremony it is my custom to look for my wife, steal a glance at her and allow our eyes to lock as I pronounce these vows…

In the Name of God, I, “Tom” take you, “Nadine” to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow.

Nadine and I have been married for 25 years, like many of you; we’ve tasted both:

• Better & worse, but to tell the truth, mostly better.
• Richer & poorer, mostly poorer at least financially. However, we’re extravagantly rich if you measure our wealth in the depth and quality of our friendships.
• Sickness & health, as the years go by it seems like sickness keeps making a stronger and stronger showing.
  

But, you know what; nights like tonight remind me that I would do it all over again - in a heart beat so long as I knew that Nadine would once again be part of the journey. She has made the good times better and the bad times bearable. Even in the poorest of times she has treated me like a king. And our true riches… our children, our friends, they’re all the fruit from her tree. I’d be hiding in a cave somewhere without her. And oh, that sickness part, no one, not even my mother has ever loved me through long and painful sickness like Nadine.

Honey, you’ve ruined me, I’m yours! Have been for 25 years and I plan to be for the rest of my life. I promise to love you and cherish you until we are parted by death, this is my solemn vow. In no small part, I am who I am today because of the love and sacrifice you have poured into me. I can never thank you enough so I’ll just love your forever instead.

Forever Yours,
Tom

© Tom Zawacki 2006