A Valentine’s Gift That Keeps on Giving

In our living room there is a symbol we used in our wedding ceremony. It’s a three-strand cord of red, white, and gold. For us, it symbolizes that the commitment we made to marriage wasn’t just between the two of us. The covenant was made by three of us, with God at the center. Scripture says, “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

A commitment to marry is more than just signing a contract. Marriage is a sacred covenant, a plan God created for our benefit. Covenant promises are unconditional; there are no escape clauses and/or money-back guarantees. Covenants are made on the foundations of faith and love, and they are permanent.

We all know couples, maybe even our own parents, who divorced. Maybe they just grew tired of each other. Or maybe the marriage was plagued by abuse, addiction, or infidelity. Whatever the reason, the couple broke the commitment they made to each other, and the painful consequences of their choice affected many others besides themselves.

But most of us also know couples who have been married for decades and are happy despite the challenges they’ve faced through the years. Our friends Bob and Gayle celebrated 60 years together before he passed away. They loved each other dearly, were the closest of companions, and remained deeply committed to each other. As Dale says, “When we grow up, let’s be just like them!” These are the kinds of couples who can give us hope for our marriages.

So for this Valentine’s Day, Dale and I will renew our covenant commitment to each other. We just can’t think of another gift as good as that!

What does covenant mean to you? I’d love to know!

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