"For Better or Worse" Even a Broken Foot

“I think if you will get on that side and I’ll get over here, I can get this car started.  I’ll jump in when it starts rolling and you just jump back out of the way.” The young man said, nodding to the young lady with him.

So, she did as he said; she grabbed hold of the door handle and pushed with all her might.  After all, they had to get to the chapel because they were getting married today.

We got there just as their wedding was over.  We were to photograph the next wedding at Thorncrown. This couple’s photographer was coming down the pathway, camera focused on the couple; her in a wheel chair and him pushing her along. As they reached the parking lot, their photographer walked over to us.

“What a calamity”, said the photographer.

“How’s that?” John inquired.

“Well, they were coming here from Oklahoma and had a problem with their vehicle. They were pushing the vehicle and the back wheel ran over her foot and I think it’s probably broken.  They’re headed to the hospital as soon as we finish these pictures. Sure am glad Thorncrown had a wheelchair.”

Sure enough, when we checked later, her foot was broken, requiring surgery, so the couple spent their wedding night in the hospital.

The words  wedding vows, “for better or for worse; for richer or poorer; in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live,” came early for this couple.  I’m sure this is not how they envisioned their wedding ceremony or their wedding night. But, when couples marry, there is no guarantee that life from the moment their vows are made, is going to be perfect.

I like the analogy Dr. Charles Swindoll uses.  He likens a marriage to remodeling a house.  He says, “It takes longer than you planned. It costs more than you figured. It is messier than you anticipated. It requires greater determination than you expected. Sometimes the only thing that keeps us going is hope!”

When our marriage commitments are made with agape love; the perfect love; the love God has for us, then they can survive anything. Perhaps when we recall that we are to do unto others; especially our spouses as though we were doing the same for our Heavenly Father, we will be a bit more patient and caring.

“And I, the King, will tell them, ‘When you did it to these my brothers, you were doing it to me!’ “ Matthew 25:40 TLB