I recently read a book entitled The Vow: The Kim and Krickitt Carpenter Story. It is a beautiful and powerful book based on love and faith. The Vow narrates the life events of a young married couple after a tragic road accident resulted in the wife losing all memory of marriage life with her husband. It is a particularly striking book, especially in today’s day and age because it reinforces that marriage is not always bliss. A key emphasis throughout the book is that marriage is a vow made not only to your significant other but to God as well.

Pope Francis in his three day apostolic journey to Georgia and Azerbaijan said ‘Marriage is the most beautiful thing that God has created’. A person loving another and being loved in return is indeed a gift many are lucky to possess. It is however necessary to remember that like any other life journey, marriage will have its lows. ‘In sickness and in health’ is an important phrase couples utter as they join together in holy matrimony. The phrase holds much weight especially in the unfortunate event one half of a couple does fall extremely ill.

In the book, doctors told the husband that his wife would not make it. He still held on, turning to God when he needed Him the most. When his wife pulled through life support but emerged with no memory of her husband and a mounting hospital bill, a lot of people urged him to leave her.  His response time and again was simple:‘I made a vow in the presence of God and my family, I plan to honor it in sickness and in health.’ He does not at any point make his journey seem simple and clear. He often doubted himself and their marriage but he never doubted God’s will and love. It is this unwavering faith that pushed him to turn to the Lord at every obstacle.

A key takeaway from this inspiring book is that love and marriage take a lot of work. Tragedy can strike at any moment and in the Vow, the young couple had barely made it to a year in marriage. Their story is a lesson to young couples everywhere that before you make a life long commitment, take the time to think and pray about your decision. The bond of marriage is tested when things get tough. It is at this time that true love and faith are the best support system one can have.

In the world today, divorce rates are constantly on the rise. According to the Global divorce statistics 2022, the leading divorce rate is 10.97 divorces per 1,000 people each year. I believe The Vow aims at showing people that love and faith are key pillars in a marriage. Young people should keep this in mind when taking up the journey of till death do us part.