The dictionary defines love as a strong feeling or emotion. Feelings and emotions change from day to day; sometimes from hour to hour. So how can a bride and groom vow to love each other ‘until death do us part”?
Here is the answer found in chapter 13 of First Corinthians NLT. “If I could speak all of the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I possessed the gift of prophecy and if I knew all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith to move mountains, but didn’t love others, i would be nothing. if i gave everything i have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it, but if i didn’t love others i would have gained nothing. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. it is not irritable and it keeps no record of being wronged. Love does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever truth wins out. Love never gives up,never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance…Three things will last forever – faith, hope and love – and the greatest of these is love.”
We should read that entire chapter often to remind us of God’s definition of love. It is the way God loved us before we were lovable. It is a choice, not an emotion. When we continue to choose it, it becomes a habit and then a lifestyle. As a Christian, I have experienced God’s love for 69 years and I cannot help but share that love with others. I have been lifted my entire life by God’s love,the love of my soul mate for over 50 years and the love of my brothers and sisters in Christ.
One last thing about that part of the wedding vows about until death parting us. Don’t believe it. i still wear my wedding band and I will until I am with her again in heaven.
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