Love and marriage, love and marriage
Go together like a horse and carriage
This I tell you brother
You can’t have one without the other
Love and marriage, love and marriage
It’s an institute you can’t disparage
Ask the local gentry
And they will say it’s elementary
Try, try, try to separate them
It’s an illusion
Try, try, try, and you will only come
To this conclusion
Love and marriage, love and marriage
Go together like the horse and carriage
Dad was told by mother
You can’t have one, you can’t have none, you can’t have one without the other!
This is one secular song that I have to say I do like the words. This was a popular song at one time; its catchy little tune was heard in many stores and restaurants and, of course, on the radio. But are its lyrics, which were probably memorized by many folks, still believed in the day and society in which we live? And how are they believed? What truths are applied to them today?
Well, I would purport here that these words are certainly believed by God. Love and marriage definitely go together. And in speaking of the kind of love that is resident in a marriage, you can’t have one without the other. Now notice that I did not say which of these necessarily comes first, but that they go together. There is an important concept which I have believed for a while now, and here quote from my Companion to Aunt Jane’s Hero (still yet to be published): “Let us see if they learn in the pages to come what many of us have had to learn: that it is not their love which must keep their marriage dwelling intact, but it is the marriage itself, and their commitment to it, that must sustain their love.” Hopefully, you understand what’s at the root of that statement. I think you probably believe it too, because the statement that immediately follows is that “we all know Who must sustain the marriage.”
That is the nature and heart of the Christian marriage; it’s sustained by God. And when both husband and wife love God and Christ is the focus, that which naturally follows is love for one another. It’s a beautiful thing; actually you’ll have to look hard and far to find anything in this earthly journey that so closely resembles the relationship of Christ and His church. Actually, marriage is the ONLY relationship that does. So, if it is truly sustained by God, then love will be there, because it flows from Christ.
Everyone loves a wedding. Well, almost everyone does. That’s because it’s known to be one of the happiest events of life. In my opinion, what makes it truly special indeed is the fact that it begins a marriage. And if the two people involved love and belong to the Lord Jesus, it is an event of great magnitude indeed. It deserves celebration. Even our Lord has attended at least one such celebration. But, for years it has been impressed on my heart, and I know others who feel the same, that it’s not the size and fanciness of a wedding that sets it apart, but the strength of the commitment of the couple to be a blessing to their families, and to bring glory to God. We have been to a few like this, and I hope as time goes on, in a world which has less and less regard for matrimony, or else distorts it, we will see more and more couples who hold it in high regard, and who seek to be a blessing as they enter into it.
Here at SG, we are taking some steps in the direction of the Christian bride, with a hope that we can provide some gifts and favors which might help her and her groom to be the blessing I just spoke about. We’re moving along in that direction now and hope to introduce a few items soon to get started. In the meantime, bookmark this page on our site and check back with us soon.
Lovingly,
Maxine
Welcome! Are you here from the summer blog tour? We’re so glad you stopped by.
