Fidelity and Marriage

Mark Sanford, Governor of South Carolina was a rising star in the Republican party. Many believed him to be a viable candidate to run for president. But Sanford's star crashed and burned when it came to light last year that he was involved in a torrid love affair with a woman from Argentina. His affair was exposed after he was hard pressed to explain a five day absence (he had told his staff he went hiking on the Appalachian Trail when in reality he was visiting his lover in Argentina). After a tearful public confession (in which he seemed more remorseful about being caught than being unfaithful to his wife) his wife, Jenny  filed for divorce and has taken the couple's four sons and moved out of the governor's mansion.

Now I mention this because of what Jenny Sanford has just revealed in an interview with Barbara Walters (scheduled for ABC's 20/20 to be aired tonight). In the interview she tells Walters that when she and the Governor were married, he did not want to include a vow of fidelity in the ceremony. Hmm. No vow of fidelity?  What was she thinking when she agreed to that? This is what she told Walters about not having a vow of faithfulness in the ceremony, "It bothered me to some extent, but ... we were young and in love. I questioned it, but I got past it" (I am betting that now she wished she had done far more than just question it!).

Listen to me carefully. Fidelity is what marriage is built upon. Without it, one's marriage will struggle to survive (if it can - most will fail). If you are reading this and you are married, then let me ask you this: what are you doing to strengthen the fidelity of your marriage. Have you expressed your faithfulness to your spouse lately? What are you doing or not doing that might be eroding this essential foundation of marriage? If you are single, then let me encourage you that before you say "yes" to a marriage proposal (or make the proposal), that you be sure you are entering into this relationship FOR LIFE! A life in which you will be faithful to your spouse come thick or thin, for better or for worse. After all, marriage is to be a picture of the relationship between Jesus Christ (bridegroom) and the Church (His bride). And there is no question of Christ's fidelity! Let's imitate Him in our marriages! Without fidelity marriage is on a road you don't want to be on ... the road to divorce court.

Thanks for stopping by . . .

pj