Bob Nicholas

Tonight I lay in bed stoned on oxycodone, a muscle-relaxer and a steroid. I have hurt my SI joint in my lower back severely and am in great pain. In the midst of this, I am amazed at the sacrifice my wife is taking to care for me and our kids. She is such an amazing woman, and she is all mine guys. :)

But this causes me to reflect on something. When we are married we take a vow of “in sickness and in health.” In fact, consider the vows you take:

Priest: “Do you take ___ as your lawful wife/husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish until death do you part?”

Bride/Groom: “I do” Bride/Groom: “Take this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness in the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit.”

How many marriages end because one member is unwilling to uphold one of these vows?? I am constantly amazed at the lies society tells us:
1. I can do whatever I want.
2. I am more important
3. I should not have to adjust my ways to satisfy your needs

Sure, for some time many indulge the idea of marriage. That is why most marriages fail in the 3-5 year. Most people can “stick it out” for 3 years.

Guys, I am challenged this week through my pain in the butt (literally) to review my sacrifices for my wife. Do I cherish her? Truly cherish her? Do I care for her when she is sick? Do I love her when we don’t have money, and when we do? Am I committed for better and for worse?

I can say without a doubt that I do a great job of the money, because we never have money.  So I’m good there. Men, I think we, I, most often fail at the “cherish” part.

According to Merriam-Webster.com this is what “cherish” means:

To hold dear: feel or show affection for
To keep or cultivate with care and affection
To entertain or harbor in the mind deeply and resolutely

So I ask you, and I challenge myself…. Are we men or are we MEN? Do we cherish our wives? Do we respond with affection when we are upset, or do we respond in anger? Do we truly “cultivate with care and affection?” Do we “harbor in the mind deeply and resolutely?” These are the next level of characteristics added to the Off Brand Dad definition.

Off Brand Dads show their wives the love we vowed to display when we said “I do”.

These women are not just another person at the office or driver on the street; they are the one person God entrusted us with the task of getting to Heaven.

Join me in the task of striving for Off Brand Dad status, let us love our wives the way we promised God we would. Let us lay down our lives for them.