It is an amazing scene, a minister, a man, and a woman stand at the center of their world. With the force of magic and mystery the man and the woman both say the magic incantation, “I do.” It is not magician’s trick - no illusion. It is a moment of transformation.

Speaking these two words causes an immediate change in the world for all to see and hear. To the unaware, things seem to stay the same; but to the well informed, nothing remains as it was.

What happens to a man when he speaks these words? Immediately, he becomes a husband. What happens to a woman when she speaks these words? Suddenly, she is a wife.

How long does all of this to happen? Only as long as it takes to say, “I Do.” Dating ends. Courtship ends. Independence ends. Aloneness ends. Suddenly there is marriage, union of two into one, and completion.

Before you thought for yourself, and were concerned only for your desires. Afterward your whole focus revolves around the welfare and interests of the union of marriage. Before you were free to go on prowl for every sensual opportunity. Afterward you willingly gaze only upon your partner refusing to even glance at another option.

One moment you owned what you owned, and the next moment your partner owns half of everything you own. One moment you are in charge of your life, and the next your partner has a voice in the things you do, the things you say, the choices you make, the work you do, the place you reside, and the life you live. You are not your own. You belong to them.

Mystery, magic, miraculous, and breathtaking are all words that describe the force found in the words “I Do”. Yet, the meaning may still allude us, unless we realize that the magic comes from the hidden power of love.

Understanding the full scope and depth entailed in the words “I Do” may well escape most couples. As they speak these words, they are often energized by feelings so strong that they just cannot resist or even think. They can only guess at what is to follow, but they do so with great zeal.

The promises contained in the words can be overwhelming. A man promises to change how he thinks, feels, and does in almost everything. He pledges his life to his bride with all his wealth, all his resources, all his strength, and all his values. He actually enters a legal marriage contract that dictates what he can and cannot legally do for the rest of his life.

A man commits himself to sexual purity and faithfulness in which he refuses to even contemplate being with any woman other than his wife.

The man promises to provide for his wife and family the vital necessities of life including food, shelter, clothing, and emotional support for the marriage to thrive. Yes, his wife can help, but he assumes responsibility for providing. He essentially pledges that he will sacrifice his own needs and interests for the benefit of his wife and family. He promises to listen to his wife and consider her needs above his own.

The instant he says “I do” and completes the wedding ceremony, half of everything he owns now belongs to his wife. In most states, it does not matter whose name is signed on a title, half of the assets of one belong to the other. An exception occasionally occurs when a pre-nuptial agreement authorized certain alterations.

The man promises to protect his wife and family from all threats. This implies that he even sacrifice himself to protect his family. He guards his wife and children against the violence of the world and the barrage of subtle attacks that can arise against his home.

The promises of the woman are similar and yet distinctively different. She pledges to give herself freely intimately to her husband to fulfill his sexual, social, emotional, and personal needs. She too pledges faithfulness and commits herself to intimacy only with her husband.

The bride says, “I will be a faithful companion to you. I will work alongside of you, walk with you, respect and honor you. Good times may come or calamity befall us, but I will always give you my life and my love.”

The commitments made during the wedding are indeed life transforming. The better we understand and the more deeply we are committed to fulfilling these commitments; the stronger our marriages will be. In those two words “I Do” there is much magic. To find more wedding and marriage resources, see Wedding How. Com. Or see the resource box below.

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