Far More Precious Than Jewels

“An excellent wife ... is far more precious than jewels.”

[Proverbs 31:10]

Sixteen years ago today the good Lord joined Lori and me together in holy matrimony. That day we promised to live together in the holy estate of matrimony as God ordained it. To love, honor, and cherish each other. To forsake all others and remain united to each other alone, as long as we both shall live. That day we vowed to have and to hold each other. For better, for worse. For richer, for poorer. In sickness and in health. Till death us do part. According to God’s holy will. Then, we pledged each other our faithfulness. What a joyous day our wedding was. What a joyous lifelong blessing our marriage is!

Lori, I thank God every day for providing me with a faithful, beautiful, intelligent, godly wife—and a devoted, loving, nurturing mother to our four boys—in you. I pray that each and every day Christ’s love for His bride, the Church, will increasingly shape my love for you.

To quote wise King Solomon, “many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all” ... for “a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised” (Proverbs 31:28, 30). You are an excellent wife, Lori, far more precious to me than jewels!