It’s God’s Grace That Enables Us To Keep Our Vows
Is it OK for #marriagemonday to be on Tuesday? Elisabeth Elliot, missionary, author, speaker, wife, daughter and momma died this week. She wrote beautiful words. Not just beautiful words but words that moved us to change.
Kay Warren posted a beautiful tribute to her on Facebook. Kay’s introduction to the portion she wrote about Mrs. Elisabeth’s book Let Me Be A Woman, “Her book in the mid-70’s Let Me Be a Woman – written to her only daughter, Val, as she got married is absolute poetry. Her words about the male/female relationship being a dance still thrill my soul when I read them. And her words on the staggering importance of wedding vows have shaped my commitment to hang in there many times when Rick and I felt we couldn’t start over one more time.” I’ve been there. Sometimes the only thing that kept us together was our commitment to God and the promises (vows) we made to stick it out.
From Mrs. Elliot’s pen – “Your provider may someday lose his job. Your strength may show unexpected weakness. Your knight in armor may experience a public defeat. Your teacher may make a serious mistake that you tried to warn him about. Your lover may become a helpless patient, sick, sore and sad, needing your presence and care every minute of the day and night. “This isn’t the man I married,” you will say, and it will be true. But you married him for better or worse, in sickness and in health, and those tremendous promises took into account the possibility of radical change. That was why promises were necessary. There are things in life which can make what seems to be a mockery out of the solemn promises. “To love, honor and obey” your husband can seem the last ironies in the face of the unspeakable humiliations and indignities of illness. Love, honor, and obey this beaten, anguished, angry man who will not take his pill? The vows are serious. Staggeringly serious. But you did not take them trusting in your own strength to perform. The grace that enabled you to take those vows will be there to draw on when the performance of them seems impossible.” (Emphasis mine)
She was married three times. Her first husband was murdered (Jim martyred missionary in Equador), her second husband ( Addison Leitch) died of cancer and her third, Lars Gren, is her surviving spouse. Her husband, Lars, published this unfinished, unedited and unpublished manuscript of hers on the internet – Marriage: A Revolution and Revelation.
Elisabeth Elliot certainly understood how “for better or worse – in sickness and health” was lived out in real life. May her words inspire us all to understand the importance of commitment.
Linking with Messy Marriage, Intentionally Pursuing-Intentional Tuesday, Purposeful Faith-#raralinkup and Holly Barrett
I appreciate your Marriage Mondays, Carmen! Even on a Tuesday. :) Thank you for this. I pray it encourages couple everywhere in their marriage. Your ministry is a blessing and gift to many. Keep doing what you so beautifully do. Much love to you today, friend!
Hey my friend! So glad to have you visit.
What encouragement for marriage Carmen. Thank you. She really does nail down the word commitment. Powerful. I will remember this. Cheering you on from the #Raralinkup on Purposeful Faith.
Hey head cheerleader! She definitely puts a whole new spin on the saying – keep on, keeping on.
Carmen, I hadn’t heard of Elisabeth Elliot until the last couple of years and her books remain on my to-read list. But your words of tribute may move her books closer to the top very soon. Thank you, Carmen, for sharing your heart at #IntentionalTuesday on Intentionally Pursuing. : )
Love visiting with you at your place Crystal. I hadn’t heard of her until recently myself. How did I not?
Her words are an inspiration. Thanks for sharing the link to her unpublished manuscript. What a special gift. I look forward to reading it. Blessings, friend.
Elisabeth definitely understood marriage – good and bad of it. Wasn’t it a great find on that manuscript. The internet, amazing. Thanks also to her husband for being so generous and sharing. Love you friend.
Thanks for sharing the testimony of this beautiful woman of God. She impacted so many lives, didn’t she? As the years go by, I can definitely see that my Jose is NOT the man I married. Nor am I the woman he married. I’d like to think we’ve both improved. :-) But we also deal with weaknesses, health issues, and a whole bunch of other stuff that wasn’t on the horizon 20 years ago! Praising God for His grace today. May the Lord use your Marriage Mondays to encourage many couples, Carmen!
Thank you Betsy. You are so encouraging and supportive. As our marriages move through the years, we begin to see those vows played out clearer and in ways we never dreamed. You and Jose bless many with your marriage, your ministry and your life. Thanks for visiting!
This is a beautiful tribute to her and all of her wise, wonderful words. Thanks for sharing!
I’m glad you were encouraged Lauren. Elisabeth had a life well lived for God. Her words are her legacy.
Awesome words here by an inspiration to us all. Such powerful statements on the depth of our vows. I am glad you had marriage Monday on Tuesday!
Thank you Kristine. Elisabeth Elliot’s words are so timely – no matter what year they are spoken. I always love when you visit. Blessings friend!
Thanks for sharing this, Carmen! Very timely for me as my husband and I have been at odds with each other the past 24 hours. I needed this reminder that no matter what comes our way, we are committed to each other no matter what!
Connecting with you through #RaRalinkup with Kellie Balarie.
Bless you!
Lisa I just hate conflict, don’t you? Sometimes the only way to stop, take a breath and allow peace to come is to remember, “We’re in this for life. We have to work this out together.” Sure am glad you stopped by today and shared you heart. Blessings on your marriage.