Showing posts with label Marriage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marriage. Show all posts

Thursday, February 25, 2010

When God Made You

It's always been a mystery to me
How two hearts can come together
And love can last forever
But now that I have found you, I believe
That a miracle has come
When God sends the perfect one

Now gone are all my questions about why
And I've never been so sure of anything in my life

chorus:
I wonder what God was thinking
When He created you
I wonder if He knew everything I would need
Because He made all my dreams come true
When God made you
He must have been thinking about me

I promise that wherever you may go
Wherever life may lead you
With all my heart I'll be there too
From this moment on I want you to know
I'll let nothing come between us
I'll love what ever you love

chorus:

He made the sun He made the moon
to harmonise in perfect tune
One can't move without the other
They just have to be together
And that is why I know it's true
You're for me and I'm for you
Cause my world just can't be right
Without you in my life

I wonder what God was thinking
When He created you
I wonder if He knew everything I would need
Because He made all my dreams come true
He must have heard every prayer I've been praying
Yes, He knew everything I would need
When God made you
When dreams come true
When God made you
He must have been thinking about me

----------------------------------------------

Call me melancholic. I don't care :)
Everytime I listen carefully to this song.. I fall in love again.
I thank God for my marriage. I thank God for my husband.. I thank God for my family.
All of my dreams might not yet come true. But I believe they will come true. Someday...
Love you more and more each day, sweetheart!

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Wedding Vow

"Saya (nama cowok/cewek) mengaku dan menyatakan di sini, di hadapan Alalh dan Pendeta serta jemaat yang hadir sebagai saksi, bahwa saya mengambil (nama cewek/cowok) sebagai (isteri/suami) yang sah, dan saya sebagai suami yang setia akan tetap mengasihi dan melayani dia pada waktu suka maupun duka, pada waktu sehat maupun sakit dan akan memelihara dia dengan setia. Saya berjanji akan menuntut hidup suci dengan isteri saya dengan menyatakan kesetiaan dan iman saya di dalam segala hal kepadanya sesuai dengan Injil Tuhan Yesus Kristus."

Ya. Yang di atas itu adalah janji nikah yang harus diucapkan saat Sakramen Pemberkatan Nikah (Holy Matrimony) berlangsung. Yang saya ketik di atas itu adalah 'template' janji nikah di GPIA Immanuel. Mungkin janji nikah ini bisa berbeda dari gereja ke gereja, tapi pada intinya itu SAMA.

Berjanji untuk tetap setia dalam segala keadaan. Entah kenapa, bukannya sok Inggris, hehe.. Tapi saya lebih suka janji nikah dalam Bahasa Inggris. Kata-katanya seperti ini, "I _____, take you ______, to be my wedded wife/husband. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish 'till death do us part. And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness."

Perhatikan kata-kata "For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish 'till death do us part." I really love the statement! Untuk keadaan yang lebih baik, ataupun keadaan yang lebih buruk, kaya atau miskin, sakit maupun sehat, mencintai dan
memelihara sampai maut memisahkan. Isn't that beautiful??

Friends, saat saya duduk diam dan bertanya ke diri saya sendiri tentang apa yang harus saya tulis dalam oret-oretan saya kali ini, saya diingatkan mengenai janji nikah dan sebuah pernikahan. Pernikahan membutuhkan komitmen. Sebuah komitmen yang besar sebagai sepasang suami isteri, karena seharusnya sebuah pernikahan itu hanya berlangsung sekali seumur hidup. Kalau sebuah pernikahan tidak memerlukan komitmen yang besar, saya rasa.. janji nikah di atas nggak perlu diucapkan deh.

Di dalam Alkitab, kita dianggap sebagai mempelai wanita, dan Kristus adalah mempelai pria. Selayaknya dalam sebuah pernikahan, kehidupan kita dengan Tuhan juga memerlukan sebuah komitmen. Sebuah komitmen yang menyatakan bahwa kita akan tetap bersama dengan Tuhan dalam kondisi apapun.

Saya sempat berpikir juga kenapa kita diibaratkan sebagai mempelai wanita. Dalam sebuah Sakramen Pemberkatan Nikah, biasanya mempelai pria yang terlebih dahulu mengucapkan janji nikahnya. Sekali lagi, kita = mempelai wanita, Kristus = mempelai pria. Nah, bukankah itu berarti Kristus yang terlebih dahulu mau 'berkomitmen' sama kita? Kalau menurut interview sama Pdt. Johan Lumoindong di depan tadi, komitmen = mengikatkan diri. Friends, do you realize that?? Tuhan yang terlebih dahulu mau mengikatkan diri sama kita. Bukan kita yang memilih Dia, tapi Dia yang udah terlebih dahulu memilih kita. Isn't that awesome?

Coba deh bayangin, Tuhan Yesus berjanji sama kita seperti itu. Dia berjanji akan memiliki dan memegang kita dalam keadaan suka maupun duka, kaya atapun miskin, sakit ataupun sehat, untuk mencintai dan memelihara sampai maut memisahkan. Dan kita semua tahu, kalau Tuhan itu kekal. Dia sudah mengalahkan kematian. Intinya, kasih sayang Dia ke kita nggak bisa dibatasi oleh apapun.

Sekarang giliran kita untuk mengucapkan janji kita sebagai mempelai wanita. Banyak yang bilang "ngomong mah gampang, melakukan itu sulit."

Bener nggak? Nah, mungkin juga pada saat kita dalam keadaan senang, everything's going OK, kita bisa bilang "Yes. Dalam segala keadaan, I will love You!" Lalu, bagaimana kalau kita lagi dalam keadaan berduka, miskin, dan sakit? Apakah komitmen itu masih bisa kita pegang?

Friends, ayo coba kita renungkan lagi komitmen kita kepada Tuhan. Apakah benar kita mau mencintai Dia dalam keadaan apapun? Apakah benar kita mau melayani Dia dalam keadaan apapun? Kadang saat pacaran pun, si cowok bisa merayu si cewek dengan bilang ,"buat kamu apa sih yang nggak bisa aku lakukan?".. Bisa nggak saat ini juga kita ngomong ke Tuhan, "Tuhan, buat Engkau apa sih yang nggak bisa aku lakukan?" ** (EK)

Marriage / Weddings

Marriage / Weddings.

Some women will smile when they hear this word.
Some men might be frowning.

After I got married, there are some girls that came up to me and asking, "Cici, how's married life? Oh I wish I can get married soon." I don't know why, but somehow "getting married" is in most women's number 1 wishlist. It becomes the most important goal that has to be achieved.

I'm not blaming those fairy-tales, with "and they lived happily ever after" written on the last page of the books. I'm not against those fantasy movies with those romantic scenes, actions, and the oh-so-perfect marriage lives. I'm not saying that marriage lives won't be as perfect, and that 'lived happily ever after' thingy never happened. It can happen, but it will need to be worked on each and everyday. Saying "I do" in front of the altar is just the beginning. The rest is up to you, whether you want to have a happy marriage or not.

The first thing that I would like to ask the girls is, "why do you want to get married as soon as possible?" Is it because of the princess-like gowns that can make people adore you, praise your beauty and make you feel you're the queen of the day? Is it because you want to have someone by your side each and every day? Is it because of (sorry) sex? Is it because you want to have kids? Is it because of your family asks you to? Or any other reasons probably?

I was shocked when I first attended the pre-marital class at the church. My pastor asked each male participants about the reason why they want to marry their girlfriend. I was like .. "O..o.. What should I answer if she asked me also?" All I know is I have dated my boyfriend long enough, and I'm ready for marriage life. My pastor told us the real answer for her question. We're fulfilling God's command, because marriage is created by God.

OK. In this case, I must admit that guys are wiser than the girls. Although sometimes because of their long long thought, they tend to postpone this marriage thingy.

Why do I say that guys are wiser?

They're thinking about what life's gonna be after they get married.
Will I still be able to hang out with friends? What if I'm not able to earn enough money to support my family? How's life like when I have kids? Will I this? Will I that?

While girls, oh come on. Admit it! We're just thinking of wearing those fancy wedding gowns, dreaming about the big day, dreaming of a perfect husband who always smells good, being with us all the time, ready to take care of us when we're sick, and all those romantic novels might teach us. I'm sorry girls, that probably won't happen. It's not I'm trying to break your dreams. But wake up! Guys do snores. Guys don't always smell good. They can get angry too. They can have problems, and they also need their own time.

Marriage needs a big responsibility. Marriage needs self-denial. Marriage needs a willingness to submit to each other. Marriage needs each other's respect. That is why I really really want to ask the questions to the girls who say "I wanna get married also" : "ARE YOU READY to take the responsibility?"

Getting married is cool. Indeed it is. Have you thought about the inlaws? The problems that might arise in the future? Are you ready to face them maturely?
Kids are cute. Yeah. But what about their education? Their childhood? Their needs? Are you ready for it? And they get sick too, you know?
My guy is the best. Yeah, rite. What if he is 'jorok'? Can you stand him?
I need a company. Yeah.. But can you sleep in one bed with your guy after an argument? He probably sleeps peacefully, while you're still playing with your own thinking, or may be you feel like running away from him.

I'm not trying to freak you out. Marriage is God's idea. If you and your partner are ready to take the responsibility, then go ahead. But if you're getting married because of those things I mentioned above, please think twice. Marriage is not a game. Marriage doesn't guarantee your happiness, as I said before, you have to work hard to achieve the happiness. Please get married when both of you are mentally and physically ready. **