“…about 40 to 50 percent of married couples in the United States divorce. The divorce rate for subsequent marriages is even higher….”  (google)   

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Take a look back—-

“Promise you won’t tell?”

“Cross my heart and hope to die, Stick a needle in my eye.”

A most binding oath of children, who take promises very seriously.  Art Linkletter made a bundle by asking little ones to tell him what their mom or dad told them not to tell.  We all laughed at their little innocence.

But as one grows older promises seem to be relegated to humor and cynicism as one adds such things as “Kings X” or “I had my fingers crossed.”

What parent disciplines his child because she promised to be in by 10:30, but did not get in until 10:35?  So you give a little leeway of 15 minutes.  Do you let the ax drop when 20 minutes late?  Probably not.  After a while a promise based on this kind of slippery slope amounts to nothing.  The child and parent both know the promise is no good.

If the character of a man or woman is built on this kind of promise keeping, why is one surprised when half of marriage promises are broken—the promise to love in sickness and health, the promise to be faithful, the promise to care for in poverty or riches.

Promises to be trusted are those that are based on the true fidelity of a person.  A promise is only as good as the man (woman).

The Bible says to let you “yes” mean yes, and your “no” mean no.  A man’s word should be better than any formal contract.  I suppose any contract can be broken.  It might cost a lot but it can be broken.

An oath based on anything except a man’s character is likely to be an empty promise.

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Prompt “Empty Promises”  by Michelle Cook  September Writing Prompts