Tuesday, July 8, 2008

not just a piece of paper...

My partner and I got married on Saturday! I must say that I previously viewed wedding ceremonies as unnecessary and redundant events which served to only provide legal status to an already solid relationship.

My view has taken a 180 degree turn since Saturday.

It is incredible to realize how important family and community are to building a successful marriage. As one of my dear friends said that day - people cannot exist in isolation, but rather can only flourish as loved members of a community. That is what I have concluded weddings are about - about renewing a sense of community, about drawing loved ones together and touching them with your love as a couple, and about reminding one another why we think each other is so special.

What amazes me however, is how many things got said that day that are otherwise left unsaid. Things that brought tears to people's eyes, only because they were said in mass volume after years of never explicitly sharing how much we all love and respect one another - parents to children, children to parents, between siblings, and between friends.

Imagine how much more joyful our daily lives would be if we could just spread these loving words out over the many days of our lives - if we could distribute our kind feelings and kind words one drop at a time, rather than bottling them in until an event such as a wedding allows the floodgates to open.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well said. So many beautiful things were said that day...but why weren't they said before and often.

Leigh Ann said...

Amen sista!

Anonymous said...

sadly that is very true. congrats on your big day.