Groom to Bride
<name removed> today is a very special day for the two of us. Both of our lives have certainly
been a journey. We have both been through a lot, more than we have time to
share here, but we both know. From our very first conversation I knew there was
something special, something different about you. After hearing your story for
the first time I realized exactly what that was. You had been through a lot but
the good news was that God had come into your life and redeemed you. You are a
saved child of God and He changed your life forever. Not only that, you also
wanted to live for Him each and every day. That was first and foremost what I
fell in love with. Then seeing a picture helped too, just kidding, but you were
and still are very beautiful.
I
honestly did not imagine that we would be standing here today as best friends,
facing each other, before God and our families/friends/this church saying vows
to one another, getting ready to join together as husband and wife and to start
a new journey and adventure together. And that is amazing to me.
Looking
back at our journey so far, we’ve been able to do a lot, go a lot of places,
experience different things together. Sure we’ve had some ups and downs and all
arounds, but it’s been absolutely amazing and the fact that God has blessed
each of us with the ability to do what we’ve done so far has been nothing short
of a miracle. I am so proud of you. You have overcome so much with your health
and circumstances you’ve been through. I believe the biggest reason that has
happened is due to your Love and devotion to our Great God. Despite your health
issues, despite the walls that have been put in front of you, you have allowed
God to move them and work through you to be where you are today. In that
process, you have also been an absolute blessing in my life. You’ve shown me
what love truly is, a choice, an action, a promise, a God given gift for each
of us. You’ve allowed me to grow and see things in a way I’ve never seen, nor
known in my life. You’ve encouraged, put up with my mistakes, and most
importantly forgiven me when I’ve failed.
I am
honored and blessed that you said yes when I asked you to marry me. We both know our situations and circumstances
are far from perfect, but we both have the only perfect person on our side and
that is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
I don’t know where this journey/adventure will take us, but all I know
is I am excited and am absolutely trusting God to lead and guide us in our
future together. I also am honored that you desire to serve alongside me in
ministry however you can.
<name removed>,
today, I want to promise you my love and devotion. That I will support you with
all that I am. I will cherish and care for you. If you are weak physically
because of your health or weak emotionally, or you have to be in the hospital
for a time, I will be here for you. If you are struggling spiritually, I will encourage
you and do my best to lead you in a growing relationship with Christ. If you are feeling isolated or lonely, I will
be here for you. I promise to be with you as long as God gives us on this
earth. Through the thick and thin, through the joy and pain, I promise this to
you. A song that has been present in our
relationship for a while now has the words, “All of me, loves all of you.” To
use that today, I am saying, I give you all of me. I love you babe and cannot
wait to begin this journey together.
Bride to Groom
<name removed>, Not too long ago, I prayed- God, lead me to whomever you want for me.
Moments later, that same night, I met you. There is no denying our connection
was instant. The spiritual depth of our relationship is on a level I didn’t
even know existed. From 500 miles away, I have felt your pains, your triumphs
and your struggles. But we both very much know love is not just a feeling. Love
is a choice; it’s an action. God is love and we love because He first loved us.
I know I can’t do this on my own and every time I try I will probably fail, but
I also know, I can do all things, through Christ who gives me my strength. We
both know we have a lot of things stacked against us, but we also know all we
need is only one to be for us. With God as that One and the glue who unites us,
as long as we stick to Him, I am confident that our marriage will be strong.
So <name removed>, today, I vow first to
God, as my strength and as my witness, to put Him first, before you- to strive
to be who He intends for me to be, surrendering my past and all that I am to
Him to build me up and build my future. I vow to do my best to live a Spirit
led life rather than a wordly one. I vow to Him to receive you and treat you as
the gift and blessing that you are and that He has given to me.
I vow next to you. Today, I take
you, <name removed>, to be my husband. I vow to you I will make love a choice, an
action. I will cherish you and respect you. I vow to walk side by side with
you, serve God with you, help you raise <stepdaughter's name removed> and potentially any future
children, and I vow to submit to you as my husband. Whether times are stable or
rocky or anywhere in between, no matter where life takes us, I vow to follow
your lead as you follow Christ, our Lord, forever.
Through our relationship, you’ve
taught me it’s not just about truth, it’s about grace too. God has shown us
both a tremendous amount of grace through our struggles and our weaknesses, and
you have modeled after His grace in your showing me grace too. You have loved
me through my faults, my sickness, my weaknesses- neck brace, eye mask, wheel
chair, tears and all, you always seem to see and hear my heart buried under it-
and I promise you, I will do my absolute best to model after God’s grace, as
His child, in showing you that grace too.
Let this ring we are about to give
one another be a reminder that as a circle, or a ring, has no end, God’s love
has no end either. God’s love, love, never fails. I vow to love you through
Him, and as we become one, to always remember what God has joined together, to
let no man divide. I give you myself til death do us part.
Bride to Stepdaughter
<name removed>, one of the first times I met you, you asked me a question. You asked if
I had any kids. I said ‘no.’ You then asked, ‘Why not?’ I really didn’t know
how to answer you, but recently God gave me that answer. God told me I didn’t
have any kids, because God was waiting to give me you- <name removed>- as my
stepdaughter.
You are a gift to me, and a
blessing. You’ve touched a part of my heart I didn’t know could be reached.
I want to give you a little gift as
my promise to you. This is a special necklace with a cross and a heart. This
cross means I will always do my best in helping your daddy lead you to Jesus
and raise you into who God wants you to be.
This
heart is my promise to love you. I want you to know I am here for you to talk
with, laugh with and even cry. Even when I’m feeling too sick to play with you,
I want you to know I still love you and each and every day I am praying for
you.
Thank you for accepting me as your
Miss. <name removed>, and now as your stepmom. I love you.
Can
I put this necklace on you?
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