When two people take their marriage vows they enter a union which they hope, believe with last. As each begins to unpack the fears, traditions, pains, frailties and realities of who they are and what baggage they bring; there is the risk that all the brokenness can split the marriage. For within each of us is brokenness which we bring to the union. Too often we enter with expectations. Expectations that the other person will fill the empty recesses of our own hearts. As you know from the series I have been writing that was the case. Pete and I both had arrived with a lot of baggage. Then, a miracle happened. God reached down to touch my heart and fill me with a deeper love than I had known. For me to lay aside my brokenness to vow to stay and love no matter what because I saw the beauty of who Pete could be in Christ. Well that was God’s miracle of Grace!! God, alone could give me the strength and the love to do that. In the process, God alone was healing my brokenness as well. What a mighty and wondrous God He is!!!
18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit (Psalm 34).
A Broken Vessel’s Vow
By Effie Darlene Barba
Two hearts had joined as one that day
And never saw the dark pathway
That lay ahead and lay behind
Two hearts that joined in hope to find
A strength in love to shine a light
Upon their lonely darkest night
Each had brought with them their fears
Their brokenness and all their tears
And as their story did unfold
Two broken hearts their sorrow told
It wasn’t what they’d hoped that day
Can broken hearts still find a way
A miracle is what they’d need
If ever they were to succeed
God’s gracious love must touch a heart
To help them stay, to not depart
Two broken hearts can beat as one
Because of Grace from God’s own son
The broken hearts are me and you
I ran to hide, to bid adieu
And then I saw your tear stained face
My heart was filled with love and grace
I saw the beauty of your heart
The tenderness you could impart
A brilliant mind so trapped within
I saw the man you could have been
If only you had known God’s love
His strength could help you rise above
And so I vow to love you dear
Today and through each passing year
My strength must come from God alone
As now I bow before His throne
I’ll lay aside all my desire
That God might flame my passion fire
To rise within to find the strength
That I might go the final length
To love you better stronger still
For this I know has been God’s will
I cannot pretend to know what obstacles you may be facing today; but, what I do know is God understands. I ask that you seek Him and His guidance. If He then leads your heart to love no matter what, then He will show you the way. His love filling the heart of one can transform both hearts—that is His miraculous Grace at work. I would love to hear from you or if you have a poem you would like to share, please use the comments below or email me.
Photo courtesy of https://unsplash.com/pichler_sebastian
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2016
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.