I’m doing things a little different today – most times I jump to facebook in a rush to post teaser images and get them out there but today I am putting them on the blog first and taking a little of my Sunday to dedicate it to Julie and Mark. Warning it’s a long one, I kinda get a little personal and of course I am going to go off topic a bit but I have a few things today I just wanted to say.
Yesterday, Julie and Mark wed after 13 years together! For two so young still – that sounds like a long time but I have no doubt of their love. I’ve been looking forward to their day as these two are so sweet, gentle and pure spirited that I knew the day would be beautiful. During the service their minister was talking about how the Greeks use four different words to describe the different kinds of love. I have really thought about his sermon and how much he was right – love is not just the soaring rollercoaster of first kisses or years of shared intimacy; it is different depending on the direction and person with which you share it with. How often have I sat through service after service paying more attention to the emotions of the people in the crowd and the bride and groom vs. what is actually being said. If anyone has seen the movie wedding crashers you probably know that Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians is oft quoted and the words come to mind as easy as breathing however and I’ve always thought they were beautiful but I’ve never really stopped to think about a lot of it and really run through my mind the meaning of the passage…
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own,
is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away…..But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
I used to think that it was talking about people in love – that people in love do not brag or get jealous or that people in love are these perfect beings – it almost made it seem unattainable and really I love Bryan but we still argue – we still get angry at each other and our decisions from time to time. Yesterday, after hearing the passage read and then a sermon that accompanied it the idea behind it stayed with me. Love is patient and it is kind – when I stare across the room at Bryan and that *zing* in my heart melts me and I see his eyes soften – that does not come from an unrighteous place – that feeling – a string in both of our beings comes from a place that is untouchable to the outside world. It is a feeling unmatched and difficult to describe but I’d say that for the first time I realized that it also means that love is our legacy. Through the people we love, no matter what happens on this earth – we will live on – their love can carry us through immeasurable difficulties and that love can come from our partners, our parents, our children and our close friends.
I saw immeasurable love yesterday, I cannot even describe how touched both Sam and I felt to be a part of Mark and Julie’s day. I saw Julie’s parents married for over 30 years – the comfort of familiarity colouring their love warm shades of pinks and yellows, I saw Mark’s Dad and Stepmother – full of quiet pride and happiness; just simply happy to celebrate the day, and lastly I saw one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen on a wedding day. We stopped at GNGH to visit Mark’s Mom who was in the hospital and couldn’t make it to the day – Mark and Julie wanted to make sure and drop by so they could get some photos with her and she could see Julie and Mark all dressed up. I watched as Mark and Julie approached and his Mom lit up with a smile to see them and when we were outside taking the photos I could tell she was so happy to be a part of everything – I saw Mark loving his Mom with lots of kisses and hugs and as we were departing I saw Mark’s step father caressing his mother’s face. Such an act of tenderness – I’m sure no one but Sam noticed brought tears to my eyes. I have seen many people caress each other’s faces – it’s kind of a part of the job but this caress was imbued with so much meaning, Mark’s kisses goodbye and Julie’s hugs held so much feeling – it seems like such a simple act but sometimes I truly believe that your thoughts and feelings show in your enthusiasm and it really just shows that you should put as much of yourself into everything you can. I think when I see my family next I won’t just hug them – I’ll hug them while thinking about the great memories we have together and how much I love them – I’ll give them a piece of my love to remember me by – I’ll try to take more moments – even if they are fleeting and just let them know how much they mean to me.
To Julie and Mark – thank you for sharing your day, your love and your families with us. Thank you for touching us in ways I am sure you will never know. Julie it is not hard to bend down and help you with your shoes – when we work with people with such great spirits and show amazing kindness it does nothing but want us to do the same in return. Both of you are such beautiful people and I am happy that your day has come. Congratulations again and here are some of the photos of the day…
Congratulations again to the both of you and I hope you enjoy your honeymoon 🙂
Wishing you friendship and love,
Amanda
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