Promises

Do you keep the promises you make? The little things? 'I'll see you at the weekend.' 'I'll do that for you.' 'I promise.'

Or do other things, seemingly more important, crop up to fill your time and squeeze out those well-intentioned words?

Today's video clip is a very touching news report about a young American woman who kept her promises to her fighter-pilot husband, despite losing him after only six weeks of marriage. His plane was shot down over Northern France and he never returned home. For more than 60 years, she waited for news and tried to find out what had happened to him.

Persevere with the clip. It looks part-way through as though it's going to become a political issue, but don't stop there. The story resumes, and has a poignant ending.

It takes courage and self-sacrifice to keep that sort of promise. Such things don't come out of the blue; they're learned in small ways as we discipline ourselves through childhood and through life to be attentive to others, to promise only what we think we can deliver and then to hold to our word as fully as we can. 

When did you last break a promise? Is Lent the time to ask forgiveness and seek to amend what went amiss?

And what about the promises made for you at your Baptism, made by you at your Confirmation? Read again the Affirmation of Commitment which we use from time to time during the service for the renewal of baptismal vows, and resolve to keep the promises made not only to other people, but also, with God's help, to God:

Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers?
With the help of God, I will.

Will you persevere in resisting evil and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
With the help of God, I will.

Will you proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ?
With the help of God, I will.

Will you seek and serve Christ in all people, loving your neighbour as yourself?
With the help of God, I will.

Will you acknowledge Christ’s authority over human society, by prayer for the world and its leaders,
by defending the weak, and by seeking peace and justice?
With the help of God, I will.