With this ring . . .

I renew vows every. single. day. It’s taking in the garbage cans or cutting the lawn. It’s small kindnesses and  forgiveness that show your commitment.

It started when our friend, Vanilla, posted Wedding Bands and Homemade Noodles on his blog.  He talks about coming home from a stay in the hospital.  His lovely wife brought him his wedding ring and said, “Let me put this ring on your finger again.”  There’s more to the story.  Click on the link to read it.

In response, our friend Lin said, “Sweet post today. I have never understood renewing your vows with a grand party and guests and fancy clothes and a big ballyhoo. I think you renew your vows every. single. day. I do. It’s taking the garbage cans in so he doesn’t have to…or cutting the lawn after work to make more relaxing time on the weekend. It’s small kindnesses and lots of forgiveness and letting things go that show your commitment.

Five years ago, as our 50th wedding anniversary was approaching, Sylvia and I began to talk about how we would celebrate the joyous occasion.  Our son said, “Why renew vows if you never broke them?”  I can’t disagree with that.  We weren’t going to do that anyway.  We did take a trip to Michigan’s upper peninsula.  We saw a couple of places we had never seen but had wanted to for a long time.

A couple of years ago, I began to pray something like this, “Dear Lord, you know how much I love my wife.  I tell her that several times each day.  Now, Lord, I ask you to help me show through my deeds how much I love her.”  After a couple of days (He waited to see if I was serious?), my answer came. “Keep your eyes open and you will see.”

I kept my eyes open and within an hour I saw what I could do.  (Why didn’t I see it years before?)

What I’m saying is that if marriage is an institution, I don’t mind being institutionalized.