When you first joined hands and hearts 13 years ago, you did not know where life would take you. You promised to love, honor and cherish one another through all things. Life has surely brought you both wonderful blessings and difficult tribulations. Therefore, you have fulfilled your promise. And God is smiling!
Both of you believe in marriage and in the fullness of the husband and wife relationship and you know that a deep bond unites you both together. All the stresses and tensions of the past have not weakened your love but have only made you more determined to stand by each other. This relationship is and must be very deep - as the Psalm
42.7 says, “Deep calls to deep in the roar of the cataracts”
Always remember to take time to develop and strengthen your continued love for each other, freer than you have been from the tensions and hassles which characterize the struggle to become established in life and in nurturing a growing relationship.
But never remain stagnant . For love and life are always changing, always anew.
So, as you come here today to reaffirm your wedding vows and as you reflect
back over all the years as husband and wife, do you now reaffirm the vows
you took 13 years ago? If so, repeat after me…
"I promise to you, Lisa / before our family and friends / to re-commit my love to you/ to re-affirm the love I feel for you every day/ to raise our children to the best of my ability/ and to nurture and perpetually strengthen/ this love between us/ for as long as we both shall live"
"I promise to you, Dean / before our family and friends / to re-commit my love to you/ to re-affirm the love I feel for you every day/ to raise our children to the best of my ability/ and to nurture and perpetually strengthen/ this love between us/ for as long as we both shall live
May you always need one another, not so much to fill the emptiness but as to help each other know your fullness. May you want one another, but not out of lack. May you embrace one another, but not encircle one another. May you succeed
in all important ways with each other, and not fail in the little graces. Look for things to praise, often say 'I love you' and take no notice of small faults. May you have happiness, and may you find it in making one another happy. May you have love,
and may you find it in loving one another.
(Dean Repeats after Keith)
Because of you /, I laugh, / I smile /, I dare to dream again. I look forward with great joy/ to spending the rest of my life with you/, caring for you /, nurturing you /, being there for you/ in all life has in store for us/, and I vow to be true/ and faithful /for as long as we both
shall live.
(Lisa Repeats after Keith)
Because of you /, I laugh, / I smile /, I dare to dream again. I look forward with great joy/ to spending the rest of my life with you/, caring for you /, nurturing you /, being there for you/ in all life has in store for us/, and I vow to be true/ and faithful /for as long as we both
shall live.
I now pronounce that you have today reaffirmed your life's commitment to one another, go forth in love and friendship for the rest of the days of your lives.
Now that the ceremony is over and the experience of living
day by day is about to re-commence, go and re-affirm your commitment to one another, your children, and your hearts...
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