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"Ah, such a pretty bride."
"What a handsome groom."
If you have been to a wedding, you have likely heard statements such as these. For a moment, consider the scene:
The guests are gathering. A camera shutter is going off nearly incessantly. Flowers are everywhere.
Somewhere the bride is putting the final touches on her hair and dress. At least 2 women are crying. At least 1 woman is trying to get a fidgety flower girl and/or ring bearer to "stop messing up your hair". 3 or 4 other women are pretending that "these are the prettiest bridesmaids dresses ever", and "I can think of many places I can wear this later."
The guys get into place. At least 1 groomsman is late. At least 1 thinks pushing the groom to see if he'll fall down is a great idea. "Uh, who's got the ring...?" The music starts ... "dum, dum, de dum...dum, dum, de dum..."
Then the preacher begins to ask the questions. Do you take this woman/man? Do you promise to love and cherish? Do you promise to not forsake each other? To keep yourself from others?
Marriage is as easy as 1-2-3. At least that's what I said in the intro on We Do. And to prove my point, let's look at one little word: Do.
When the preacher asks those questions, the bride and groom are supposed to answer, "I Do". I -- Do.
Do what? Oh yeah, do whatever those questions say we are supposed to do. But it is more than that. It's got to be. Because unless we see the video, most guys never even know what they promised to do.
To bring about; effect. To put forth effort; exert. Those are the "textbook" definitions of the word do. That would sound like a good place to start. But it's got to be more than that too. After all, there are other definitions of do that won't make my point, so we can't just rely on Webster's to help us.
What are we supposed to do? Marriage doesn't come with an instruction book. Most brides are hard to read. And even if they weren't it wouldn't do much good. Most grooms are illiterate anyway. At least when it comes to "reading" their wife. And although most women can read their men like a book, it is a book written in disappearing ink, so it doesn't do much good reading it.
Let me suggest a slight change in one of the more familiar scriptures in order to help us understand what we promise to do when we make that promise, "I do".
(Philippians 4:8-9) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.
"Put it into practice". In other words --- DO IT!
In your life together:
Whatever is true -- DO IT! Whatever is noble -- DO IT! Whatever is right -- DO IT! Whatever is pure -- DO IT! Whatever is lovely -- DO IT! Whatever is admirable -- DO IT! Whatever is excellant -- DO IT! Whatever is praiseworthy -- DO IT!
For a brief explanation of each of those statements, see Jehovah Shalom. Take God seriously, and (sorry Nike) JUST DO IT, and see what might not happen in your life and marriage.
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