And in Sickness and in health

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.[a] 28 In the same way, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. Ephesians 5:25-30
I remember the vow I made to my chosen bride on the day I was married, and again when I witnessed my son reciting those same vows to his chosen bride. 

, I, Todd, take you Linda to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part.

So many of us men failed to see the rest of that verse from Ephesians beyond Verse 22 where it says 'wives submit to their husbands.'

For some men there interpretation for that verse is "Woman, submit." as if it is their interpretation as they go off selfishly pursuing their hobbies.

Yet, God calls us to love our wife as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her- that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing that she might be holy and without blemish.

Men, what are you doing to earn her respect for your authority? Are you developing a true love for God's word, or are you letting your wife handle the 'Spiritual matters' of bringing the kids to church while you stay home to read the paper or watch Sunday sports on television?

Men, are you encouraging your wife daily with scripture you read that has the long-lasting effect of sanctifying her? We have been given a lofty task with our marriage vow to her.

Men, what are you doing to encourage your wife, 'in sickness and in health'? In the back of your mind are you wishing and hoping she will never get sick, or worse develop a debilitating disease or chronic disability? Statistics demonstrate that as we travel the trajectory of life, we will be impacted by disability and other health matters. In Disabled world, https://www.disabled-world.com/disability/statistics/ I discovered that persons with disabilities are more likely to be victims of violence or rape, according to a 2004 British study, and less likely to obtain police intervention, legal protection or preventive care. Women and girls with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to abuse. A survey in Orissa, India, found that virtually all of the women and girls with disabilities were beaten at home, 25 percent of women with intellectual disabilities had been raped and 6 percent of women with disabilities had been forcibly sterilized. Research indicates that violence against children with disabilities occurs at annual rates at least 1.7 times greater than for their peers without disabilities.

Men, how we treat the most vulnerable among us directly impacts their well being. Are we striving to love Christ and sacrificing our needs for the needs of others? Loving your wife through sickness and in health is one way of demonstrating this passage. Staying committed to your wife without bailing on her when disability becomes part of her physical and or emotional makeup is another way of demonstrating that passage.

But one way you can change those sobering statistics is by loving your wife just as Christ loved the church and supporting her even when disability occurs.