Aug
9
Here I Raise My Ebenezer
Filed by Becky Albrecht Under Uncategorized | 1 Comment
Yesterday marked the thirty-seventh anniversary of the day that Tom and I recited our wedding vows at the First Assembly of God Church in Plymouth, PA, with my uncle, Rev. Francis Parmenteri, officiating. The year was 1975, and the times were, as they say, turbulent.
As we looked forward to the unknown future, we pledged our commitment to each other: “To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward, until death us do part.”
For better.
Since that time, God has blessed us with seven offspring. This has definitely been the “for better” for us. We were able to have school in our home for twenty-three years. On several occasions, we were able to open our home to live-in guests. We have also been blessed with four daughters-in-law, one son-in-law, and eleven grandchildren, with two more grandchildren due in August, 2012.
For worse.
Grief has struck us on several occasions. We have each lost both of our parents. Each of us has suffered the loss of a younger sister. Several times I was pregnant, but the pregnancies did not carry to term [“The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised (Job 1:21b, niv, 1984)”]. There were times when we faced unemployment. These were difficult times for us. Through the child-rearing years, there were trials along with the joys. God’s grace proved to be sufficient for us during troubled times (II Corinthians 12:9).
For richer.
We are blessed with many riches, some of which are material. I am grateful that we have always had a roof over our heads and food on the table.
For poorer.
When we were first married, money was definitely tight. I recall a time when Tom was in college and I was in graduate school, that Tom came home for dinner, and there was meat to eat for dinner. He wondered where I got the money for meat. I told him that I had gathered loose change from around the house, and used it to buy meat at the Acme. Yes, there were times when finances were difficult. We learned to be content with or without excess money. God’s Word tells us, “Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil” (Proverbs 15:16). The Apostle Paul wrote, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11).
In sickness.
Thankfully, through the years, neither we nor the children experienced much sickness. However, in September, 2003, Tom broke his leg. He was attempting to put our Goldwing motorcycle in our shed, which required riding the motorcycle up a fairly steep ramp. Unfortunately, the bike fell, resulting in the broken his leg. I became his chauffeur and primary care giver. Then in July, 2012, my leg was broken in a motorcycle mishap. Now, it was I who needed a chauffeur, care giver, and a person to fetch things for me. In sickness we are called to serve. [“Whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant” (Mark 10:43b).]
And in health.
We continually thank God for return to good health! Good health is a gift from God. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, Who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).
To love and to cherish.
Love is an action word. God tells us, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). We should not wait to “feel” love; we act love. (See I Corinthians 13).
God tells us, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh” (Genesis 3:24). He also advises husbands to “Rejoice in the wife of your youth” (Proverbs 5:18). The prophet, Malachi, warned his listeners that their prayers were not answered because, “The Lord is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is you partner, the wife of your marriage covenant” (Malachi 2:14).
God’s Word is still true today. Marriage is His idea. “For better or for worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish… until death us do part.”
[An aside: If divorce is part of your experience, remember that God heals. God tells us, “I am the LORD, who heals you” (Exodus 15:26b).]
A hymn-writer once wrote, “Here I raise my Ebenezer, hither by Thy help I’m come” (Robinson, R., 1758). By God’s grace, we are this far. I do not know the future, but I do know that by His help we have arrived here.
To His glory.
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