The Beauty of Commitment

Our daughter, son-in-law, Rilyn and Gavin...number three
will be here soon!

     I am feeling very blessed tonight as I reflect on some things I have seen lately.  It is not often that you meet two people very much in love after sixty-six years of marriage, but they came into our office the other day.  She came in for an eye problem, and he came for moral support.  Since my husband is very thorough in his profession, it took some time.  Her husband began to worry about her saying, "I hope she is all right.  You know we haven't been apart for sixty-six years."  I assured him that she was fine and would return soon.  He went on to describe how they met and married very young and raised three fine daughters.  They came from the Midwest and every winter, they came to Florida to meet up with the many friends they had made here  He told me that if he had it to do all over again, he would marry her in a minute.
     As soon as she came out, he smiled from ear to ear delighted to see his bride.  Anyone could see the love between them.  When he took her hand as they were ready to leave, I thanked God for the blessing and covenant of marriage.  This is what it is meant to look like.  Growing old together and facing the good and the bad hand in hand.
     Then, today, I received a text message with a picture of the sweet face of our granddaughter yet to be born.  Our daughter, son-in-law and grandson went to have a special sonogram so they could see this little lamb.  In just nine weeks, she will make her appearance on the grand stage of life.  This, too, is what commitment and love in Christ bring into a family.  God's gracious gift of children is a priceless reminder of His love.
     Gavin our four year old grandson was in awe of his new, waiting to be born sister who will join him and little Rilyn at the beginning of March.  I can see many tea parties in their future along with other creative fun.
     What a juxtaposition of people!  One older couple demonstrating a life long commitment to one another and still very much in love.  Then at the opposite end of the spectrum is our daughter and son-in-law ready to greet another child.  This is the picture that God wanted to paint from the beginning of time that man would love Him and then love one another.
     Indeed, my husband and I have had the blessing and privilege of having four gifts from God's gracious hands.  Three of them are married to wonderful Christian spouses, and we now have seven going on eight grandchildren. A friend of mine told me today that we are rich.  I have to agree.  We are not rich as the world counts wealth, but we are rich in what God deems important.
     As I read my Bible today, I came across this passage in Genesis 2.  After God saw that Adam needed a helper that was fit for him, he took a rib from his side and created woman.  Verse 23-24 read:  "Then the man said, 'This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh, she shall be called Woman because she was taken out of Man.'  Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."  When the writer uses the term "Hold fast", he is referring to a covenant commitment.  We are never more like our covenant keeping God than when a man and a woman pledge themselves in covenant to one another.  In marriage, we see God's relationship to His people.
     This is what I saw in the past few days.  The commitment and love of the older couple and the joy of our daughter and her husband as they prepare for a new baby.  Love is like that.  This is why God sent His only Son as the greatest gift to us that we might have relationship with Him.  Jesus came to die and to give His life as a ransom for many.  He has made it possible for us to have abundant, full, and loving relationship to the Father and to one another.  Without Him at the center of our lives, we will never experience the freedom from sin and the love for others that we can have...that I personally saw demonstrated in that older couple.
     God calls us to commitment.  First and most importantly to His Son, our Savior Jesus Christ.  Then, He calls us to commitment in our relationships, to our family and to our work in this life.  There is beauty and satisfaction in this.  We can only see it when God opens our eyes.  Look at your commitments today.  Cherish them and work on them for His glory.  You never know whose heart you will touch by living for Christ.  Selah!