10:34 PM 22/03/03

Marriage is such a beautiful thing.

Today my aunt and uncle got married. Actually, they`ve been married for 14 years. When people asked before, I`d say that they were getting there vows renewed. But after witnessing the wedding and enjoying the reception, they are now truly married.

In those 14 years, they had their highs and lows like and any couple would have. But as the years went on, the lows became really low, the highs not so high. In the middle was their son; try as I may, I could never understand what he had to go through in those times, or (being an only child) who the could turn to. They separated twice (that i can remember), and they threatened each other (and consequently, their son) with divorce.

They joined the Couples for Christ (CFC) community a few months ago, and their faith in the Lord was renewed, refreshed. I was so happy for them; I could see how the Lord had changed them, how it changed their view as a husband and wife, and as parents. They understood that the Lord never gave up on them -- that no matter how bad things were between them, it didn`t matter anymore. My aunt has a new passion for singing, and my uncle "re-awakened [his] hidden talent for guitar," as he put it; they`ve joined a church choir.

Apparently, after a couple completes a Cristian Life Program (CLP), if the couple hasn`t had a wedding at a church, CFC asks that they do so as soon as possible. My aunt and uncle didn`t have the money and time to plan all of that.

After today, I gained a higher respect for the CFC community. Under the direction of my aunt and uncle`s household heads, and many members of the CFC community, their household pulled it all together. They put up the money they needed for the church hall and wedding, and the decorations and reception. Most importantly, they put in the *time to plan and organize.

Today, they had a real wedding -- at a church -- with family and friends. A real wedding, with the blessing of family, in the presence of God. A real wedding, where the vows go beyond the words they speak, where the vows go beyond the people who witness them.

A real wedding, where they offer themselves as individuals to each other, and offer themelves as one to the Lord.

As of today, they are truly married.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My aunt and uncle live all the way in Guelph. Just listening to all the CFC do their little speeches, I`ve learned that there is much respect them, because of their dedication and commitment to the CFC community. They make their way down to Scarborough for their households every friday, or for their general assembly every month. It`s this commitment that is reflected in their renewed commitment in each other as spouses and as parents, and it`s this commitment that *is to be respected. Although they don`t do it for respect, they`ve earned it, nonetheless.

My aunt told us a story today. {(something like this)} Before they joined CFC, my grandfather (her father-in-law) passedaway. As she held his hand in the hospital, he told her something that i`m sure was puzzling for her at the time. He told her to think about all the things that have happened to her and her husband in the past few years. He told her that that no matter what happens to them, trust that the Lord will watch over them, that Lord will take care of them. That surprised me; I never really knew my grandfather to speak of God. As proof that the Lord has continued to watch over them, they`ve made it this far; they know that they wouldn`t have made it this far without that blessing.

My uncle also told a story today. {(something like this, also)}


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There`s this girl who has gone through so many problems in her life. Her academics are faultering, she broke up with her boyfriend, and her best friend is moving away. She talks to her mom about it, who is in the kitchen baking a cake.

Her mom says, "I`ll tell you what: you can have some cake. Eat some flour."

And the daughter goes, "Just the flour? That`s gross! What about the baking soda, the sugar, the vanilla?"

And the mother replies, "That`s how it is with life, and with the Lord. You can`t have just the good things in life. By mixing the bad and the good over time, the Lord creates something special, like this cake."


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hearing this story from my uncle, he really *does understand that they *had to go through those times they did -- the good, *and the bad. It`s this understanding that i`ve learned all the years i`ve been in YFC. I`m glad that they`ve learned that, and I`m glad I`ve learned it early.

They`ve gone through so much happiness and sadness -- pain and jealousy, yet gladness and joy in the Lord. They`ve stuck it through; what can go wrong so long as they praise God in all they do?

In the final words of my uncle`s speech, teary-eyed, "Daddy... we finally did it."

Today, they are truly married.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you`re currently in a relationship: if both of you have ever thought about a long-term relationship -- and I mean CFC long-term... if you have the good, guaranteed, you`ll get the bad eventually. Call it God`s way of saying, "Hey, call on Me in this relationship, because it won`t work without Me," as my aunt and uncle have learned. Without Him, they experienced deeper lows than they had to.

Marriage is two people living their life for the Lord as one.
Marriage is for the strong; the strong realize that they are weak and that need the Lord to do anything. "I can do all things, through Christ who strengths me." (Philippians 4:13)
Marriage is such a beautiful thing, as it should be.

Don`t throw it all away just because you have a taste of the bad. I know I won`t, because we are strong.

(*still*here* right? :D)

Makes me want to get married.

1:02 AM 23/03/03