Dear Beautiful Bride,
As I look at your sweet smiling face in our wedding photos, almost six years later. I can’t help but envy that hopeful young girl in the photo. Her curls are perfect, walking with grace, and shining a smile that tells everyone that her happily ever after is about to begin.
Oh how I wish I could warn you of the emotional journey ahead...
How this journey of marriage will challenge every part of you, but warm every ounce of your heart. How not every moment together ahead will be perfect. You will feel the hurt of betrayal, and patience will be tested. But you will grow with the strength of forgiveness and the courage to overcome.
How you could love your spouse so deeply, that at times you know exactly why God put you two together to share this life. You will inspire, learn and grow from each other. You will also cheer each other on, and fight for each others hopes and dreams. There will be times that you feel that you are up against the world together, but that’s ok, because you have them on your team.
How you will often feel the torn battle of balancing being a mother and a wife at the same time. How you will long those simple nights out with your husband. Dancing and laughing carefree. How you will miss the romantic getaways, sensual seductions, and dressing up for date night out on the town. How your new idea of romance will turn into a movie at home, taking out the trash, or offering to occupy the kids while so the other can go shopping by themself.
But on a saturday morning, as all the little ones climb into your bed, you two look at each other with a sense of peace. The feeling of contentment and love will overwhelm you, and a renewed sense of purpose of your marriage sets in.
I wish I could say the little arguments about money and spending will go away. Or that you won’t get so mad at your spouse, that you elect to sleep on the couch.
But in the end, my beautiful bride, you have to remember why you are dressed up today. Why you have that hopeful smile on your face. Why you are standing in front of all your family and friends, professing your love for this person... it is just that... love...
...love is a beautiful thing. It can conquer all and it can heal all. It can make miracles happen and forgiveness possible. It is what drives the good in all of us.
So remember my sweet bride, love is a choice. A choice that you are making on this beautiful day. A choice to love this human for better or for worse, and in all the joys and sorrows that this promise may entail. You are choosing to love this soul, who has equally chosen to love you and your imperfections in return.
A true marriage is not about who is right, or who wins the most arguments. It’s about how you grow through the hard times together and come out with a stronger love in the end. My dear bride, always remember that you are enough, have the courage to prevail, and the trust in this love that you chose.
Love, A Hopeful Wife.
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage ~ Lao Tzu