Today, I am in North Carolina, visiting one of our missionaries and, in so doing, missing an opportunity to celebrate my 5th Anniversary with the dearest gift God has ever given me: my wife.

5 years ago today, I made this vow before God and the witnesses present, and I happily confess it again today before all who will hear:

My Dearest Meg,

I kneel before you today a frail man in this holy and happy moment. As I make this vow, I realize the seriousness of it. First of all, I am making this vow before our God. God knows our hearts and vowing before Him is a serious thing. Secondly, I am vowing these things to you. You are the only woman I’ll ever say these things to. You know me well and love me in spite of my weaknesses, so this makes it a serious vow. Finally, I am making this vow before all our family and friends. They will be witnesses to make this serious, so I do not make this vow lightly.

Meg, it seems like yesterday God brought us together. I was a whining single person trying to find contentment and you were that chipper little Sonic employee. I remember walking into Sonic and seeing you, knowing that something was different. I remember the great foundation we had in this relationship—diving into the Scriptures, understanding God’s love and praying together. In those moments, God set us on a path to make us one. You are my greatest supporter, my biggest encourager, my best friend, and my devotion. I vow to you today to seek to love you as Christ loved the church. This selfless, sacrificial model will be what I seek to imitate. Not just loving you, but leading you in humble service will be my aim all my days. I want you to increase through my decreasing. I promise to cling to you alone all the days of my life and, someday, when this life ends, may I have led and loved you in such a way that you declare – the body they may kill, God’s truth abideth still, His kingdom is forever.

My God, I make this vow before You, knowing it is Your love and headship that makes it possible. Before the foundation of the world, You set Your affection on me, when I was an unworthy, unlovely sinner. You sent Your Son to die on the cross and rise from the dead to demonstrate Your love. May Your grace enable me to be a man worthy of such a woman. May You continually teach me what loving leadership looks like, so that when my life on this earth is over, I may be able to say – the body they may kill, Your truth abideth still, Your kingdom is forever.

I pledge to be all this I am so that Meghan is all she can be. God, will you make us one, as the fellowship the Godhead enjoys is one? I promise all these things before my God, you Meghan, and all these witnesses, this 28th day of August, 2004, that God may be greatly glorified in us, as we pursue glorifying and enjoying Him, forever. AMEN.

As a token of my love to you — promising to love you as Christ loved the church — and promising to lead you in humble service — I give you this ring. — May it remind you of the God who set His love on you — and a husband seeking to imitate that love. — May God perfect this marriage to His glory — in the name of the Father — and of the Son — and of the Holy Spirit. — Amen.

I love you, princess, and hope that God gives you a great day pondering His work in us.