Mr. Make-Believe (An Urban, Chic-lit Novel)

Chapter 26: Together, Never

Vow Renewal Ceremony...

"Janet and Brad, when you first joined hands and hearts in marriage 30 years ago, you did not know where life would take you. "You promised to love, honor and cherish one another through all things. Life has surely brought you both wonderful blessings and difficult challenges over the years.

But here you are today, having fulfilled the vows to love, honor and cherish you each made on your wedding day. And God is smiling! As you celebrate here today, and as you reflect back over all the years as husband and wife, do you now wish to reaffirm the vows you took 30 years ago?"

As usual, both falling in sync, "We do."

Pastor Brooks smiled and urged the veteran couple, "Please face each other and join hands."

 Brad gazed into his wife's eyes and almost choked. Not because he was nervous or regretting anything, but because he was here re-affirming his love for the love of his life. It seemed all of the joyous times, hard times, fun times and bad times seemed to flash behind his eyes. From the first moment he'd seen her in the ice cream parlor in her beautiful teal dress showing off a smile that could shine light within the most darkest places to the birth of their daughter years later. The amount of joy he was feeling at this very moment was so overwhelming, a tear escaped from his eyes. It did not matter there we're also two hundred people watching his every movement. It could have just been him and his Janet in a small ceremony of two, he feelings would still be the same.

 Pastor looked at Janet. "Janet, will you continue to have Brad as your husband and continue to live in this marriage? Do you reaffirm your love for him, and will you love, honor and cherish him in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?"

"I Do"

Brad, Will you continue to have Janet as your Wife to live in this marriage? Do you reaffirm your love for her, and will you love, honor and cherish her in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?"

"I Do." Pastor Brooks continued on the reunion with a smile.

"On your wedding day you exchanged rings as a symbol of the never-ending circle of love. Rings serve as a reminder of your wedding vows to each other, and your commitment to live in unity, love and happiness. At this time, it is appropriate to reconfirm the meaning of the rings you wear. Please join your left hands together so that Brad's hand is on top. Brad, please repeat after me:

Janet, I wear this ring you placed on my hand as a symbol of my love and commitment to you." Brad repeated his words with joy in his heart, tears in his  eyes and the warmest smile that melted Janet's heart.

"Now, with Janet's hand on top, Janet please repeat after me:

Brad, I wear this ring you placed on my hand as a symbol of my love and commitment to you." Janet also repeated he re-binding words with an overflow amount of love.

Pastor continued. "I ask that you each remember to continue to cherish each other as special and unique individuals and that you each respect the thoughts and ideas of one another. And most of all, be able to forgive each other, and not hold grudges against one another. Live each day in love with each other, always being there to give love, comfort, and refuge to each other, in good times and bad. Brad and Janet, today you have renewed the promises and vows you made to each other on your wedding day. You have symbolized the renewal of the marriage union by the joining of hands, the taking of vows, and by the wearing of your wedding rings.