“I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.” Psalm 119:58 ESV
In France, there’s a Parisian bridge called the Pont des Arts overlooking the Seine River. Built during the reign of Napoleon, it was designed to show off the beauty of their lovely river and promote the arts. After it was damaged during the wars, they rebuilt it and people started using it again. Problem solved.
Not quite. A young couple, fiercely in love, placed a padlock with their initials on the fence, and then threw the key into the Seine. In time, the entire bridge was covered in “love locks” – promises of eternal devotion. The lovely Pont des Arts Bridge became walled-in with ugly padlocks. A tourist trap, pickpockets and thieves stalked the crowds. Greedy shopkeepers sold cheap locks at exorbitant prices. Locals stayed away.
The city officials scrambled for an answer. They urged couples to take selfies instead, but their campaign was ignored. As sections of the fence crumbled under the immense weight, they decided to remove the fencing from the bridge. Romantics wailed, but good sense prevailed as chain link was replaced with Plexiglas. The view was restored.
You just can’t padlock love. Promises can be broken. I wonder how many couples were separated by the time their locks were removed. See, I was raised in a “no excuses childhood.” If you promised to do something, you did it. Period. Promises were kept. Chores and homework were completed before anything else. If you stayed home, you had a fever and stayed in bed.
Then life happened. You know what I mean: chronic illness, sick children, rocky relationships, elderly parents, etc. I learned to consider carefully before I made any promises.
How can we keep our promises to ourselves when we have [insert your own obstacle here]? Just as the officials in Paris looked for answers to solve the problem of the Pont des Arts Bridge, we can
Ask for help if needed,
Look for other ways to get things done,
Accept help from those who offer, and
Search for God’s guidance in making your promises.
God calls us to do amazing things. He never breaks his promises. And you’ll never need a padlock to know how much He loves you!
~*~
Angela Arndt writes women’s fiction with a thread of romance. She loves to tell stories of strong, independent women in difficult situations, set in small Southern towns. Her biggest hope is that she will encourage others to overcome their “back roads” and find their own joy in the Lord. She and her husband, Charles, live on a bee farm in the middle of a big wood with their three furbabies: Beau, Harley, and Buddy the Wonder Dog (because she wonders where he came from). Read more thoughts from Angie at her blog, Joy on the Back Roads. Connect with Angela at her website, on Twitter, and Facebook.