Nine Years and Counting

I thank God that on September 23, 2000, on a rainy afternoon in Raleigh, North Carolina, Ruth Renée Pahnke said, "I do." I am a better man because of her. I am happy to rise up and praise her (Proverbs 31:28).

Here are the vows we wrote together, memorized and quoted to each other on our wedding day.

I, Timothy, take you, Ruth,

To be my companion and my wife by covenant;

And I do solemnly promise before God and these witnesses

To love you as Christ loved the Church,

Giving Himself for her:

To be your head, even as Christ is the head of the Church,

Leading her, protecting her, and providing for her,

Both materially and spiritually:

To strive by God’s grace and empowerment

To dwell always in harmony with you,

Being patient and kindhearted and humble in spirit,

Not rendering evil for evil, or insult for insult,

But blessing instead;

To dwell with you according to knowledge,

Giving honor unto you as unto a weaker vessel

Whether in plenty or in want,

In health or in sickness,

In joy or in sorrow,

Until God by death shall separate us.

I, Ruth, take you, Timothy,

To be my companion and my husband by covenant;

And I do solemnly promise before God and these witnesses

To reverence and honor you,

As the Church doth reverence and honor Christ as her head,

To submit unto you in all things,

Even as the Church is subject unto Christ,

To strive by God’s grace and empowerment

To dwell always in harmony with you,

To be patient and kindhearted and humble in spirit,

Not rendering evil for evil, or insult for insult,

But blessing instead;

To look well to the ways of our household

In all chastity, meekness and faithfulness,

That I may be one in whom your heart may safely trust

Whether in plenty or in want,

In health or in sickness,

In joy or in sorrow,

Until God by death shall separate us.