I seem to remember bringing this to our attention several years ago. No matter, it bears repeating. Especially with our emphasis this year on Home and Family.

Author and business leader Fred Smith writes: One of my treasured memories comes from a doughnut shop in Grand Saline, Texas. There was a young farm couple sitting at the table next to mine. He was wearing overalls and she a gingham dress. After finishing their doughnuts, he go up to pay the bill, and I noticed she didn't get up to follow him.

But then he came back and stood in front of her. She put her arms around his neck, and he lifter her up, revealing that she was wearing a full-body brace. He lifted her out of her chair and backed out the front door to the pickup truck, with her hanging from his neck.

As he gently put her into the truck, everyone in the shop watched. No one said anything until a waitress remarked, almost reverently, "He took his vows seriously." (Leadership, XVI:I:38).

Every year about 2.3 million couples promise to remain husband and wife "for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honor, cherish, comfort, and be faithful as long as we both shall live." Or something along those lines.

But unhappily, morality has suffered a terrible blow in this country. Nowhere is this more evident than in the marriage vows that are broken every day. Every divorce declares that a husband or wife -- or both -- has sinned against the other. And now they are headed for the divorce court. What are some possible sins involved?

Lying: -- Every divorce declares that someone has lied. "As long as we both shall live" has turned into "until things get tougher than I thought they would get." Or "untill I find someone who suits me better." Or....

Adultery: -- In accord with the express will of God, most couples promise to remain faithful to each other. But rampant sexual immorality has invaded the marriage bed.

Abuse: -- Verbal or Physical. What happened to the vows to cherish, honor, comfort, and protect? Why has the beloved now become the feared?

Husbands and wives need integrity and honor. Without these qualities we'll likely not take our "vows seriously."

By Lawrence P. Kelley in The Lost River Bulletin, Vol. 60, No. 1, Mar. 2010.

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