Promises and Vows

Later this month my wife and I will celebrate our 46th wedding anniversary. Yep. We were married on December 22, 1979.  She was already teaching school. I was in the middle of my junior year in college.  It was a crazy time.  Shorter College, at that time, was the only college in Georgia that operated on the semester system, rather than quarters. I had a final exam on Friday morning, December 21.  Then I drove from Rome to Dacula (my hometown), and turned around and went to Chamblee for the rehearsal and dinner.  To say I was distracted would be an understatement.

            Well, fast-forward these many years, and we have come to a conclusion. It was crazy for a pastor to get married during the Christmas season. We have never taken an anniversary trip. We usually go to a show and out to dinner. But the entire month of December is packed with church events.  Add to that one granddaughter’s birthday.  While the song says, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” I can attest that it is also, “the most hectic time of the year.” 

            And we wouldn’t have it any other way.  God has blessed us in more ways that we could ever have imagined.  And the events of Christmas always remind us of that young couple who only knew one thing. We loved each other, and we were committed to each other.  And we have both sought to keep the vows we took on that day.

            During the Christmas season, many promises are made. “I’ll be good if I get that gift.” “I’ll be there for Christmas dinner.”  “You can count on me.” And some of those promises are indeed kept. But there can also be heartache and pain during this time of year.  I won’t elaborate. You know what I mean.

            But let me remind you of this. Christmas means that God keeps His promises.  Jesus was, and is, the fulfillment of God’s greatest promise.  And He is the guarantee that God will always keep His word. Are you trusting in Him this year? He will not forsake you. He will not forget you.  Indeed, you can count on Him.