"In the name of God, I, (name), take you, (name), to be my husband/wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish all the days of my life. This is my solemn vow."
Wedding vows: words that are meticulously and beautifully laced together to form one of the most sacred promises between two people. You vow to be each other's one and only, to take care of one another when sick, to uplift your partner’s spirit when they’re down, and to love each other unconditionally through the good times and the bad.
Generally, these promises are made between someone and their significant other at an altar, but I made these vows sitting in my car to a six-week old puppy, Fitzgerald. As I sat there looking at his big brown eyes I realized that I could never live my life without him. I had made a commitment in adopting him, and I planned on taking care of him all the days of my life.
You vow to be each other's one and only. This vow, in many cases broken by lovers, rings true between a dog and his owner. Nothing in this world is more faithful than a dog. You forget to do the dishes? Your dog doesn’t care. You gain 10 pounds and eat a pint of ice cream every night? Your dog still loves you; he never judges you. No matter what you do, your dog will always be loyal to you, and he will never stray from your relationship for someone thinner, smarter, or prettier because you’re perfect in his big brown eyes.
To take care of one another when sick. Remember that time you laid in a pile of used tissues with a dripping nose, tangled hair, and you truly looked like death? And all you wanted was for your significant other to cuddle with you but not talk? Well finding someone to accept you for your sick self is hard, but your dog does. Dogs can sense when their owners don’t feel well, and they always seem to know exactly what you need. Fitzgerald curls up in bed with me when I’m sick, he doesn’t comment on my horrific appearance and he doesn’t talk, but his presence is comforting and all I need.
To uplift your partner’s spirit when they’re down. Let’s be honest, a lot of times your spirit is down because of your partner. Perhaps he or she told a lie, broke a promise, or never took the trash out and they have truly let you down. Let me just ask, when is the last time a dog hurt your feelings or let you down? Never, the answer is never. Dogs only show love and compassion. The moment a dog sees his owner there is a sense of pure joy and that happiness automatically elevates your spirit.
To love each other unconditionally through the good times and the bad. This vow is the most difficult vow to uphold because it requires being selfless in a selfish world. Your significant other may not know how to be selfless, but I guarantee you your dog does. Dogs have such precious and loving hearts. Whether life is going great and a dog just adds to that greatness, or you’re feeling lonely and depressed and struggle to get out of bed… your dog will always love you.
Often times these vows are broken by significant others, but a dog will never hurt you. A dog will never leave you for someone else, and a dog will never break your heart. So vow to love and appreciate your dog the way that he does for you. Remain loyal to him, take care of him on his bad days, play with him and make him happy, and always remember that your dog is always there for you... so be there for him too.
