Life is definitely full of challenges. Many times I thought of just giving up and letting go when challenges come my way, especially when it comes to my marital relationship. Who wouldn’t think of giving up particularly if the pain is caused by someone we love so much and dear to us? Some people easily forgive, move on and forget the pain; others hold grudges in their hearts and continue to hurt. The latter is definitely unhealthy, though this is the typical way of dealing with pain; after all, we are just humans.
When we attended the Marriage Encounter Retreat, we learned so many things about our inherited faith. I knew then that my selfish ways and old life was in need of a major overhaul. My husband must have felt the same way too since one Friday night after worship, out of the blue, he asked that we marry and exchange vows at church to officially get the blessings of our family in front of God. We have both forgotten that the sacred and profound sacrament of Holy Matrimony was missing in our twenty-five year relationship. To my surprise, excitement and reverence, I accepted.
On the wedding day, as I walked down the aisle, I saw my husband with so much anticipation as he patiently waited for me at the altar. The moment was breathtaking. Finally, we tied the knot in front of God witnessed by our children, family and friends. Taking the Holy Eucharist as a “sacramentally” married couple never felt so good. My heart was overflowing with joy that I couldn’t contain the tears from flowing down my face. I realized it is not the struggles, the challenges, the pain in life that I should focus on, but the joy of having one another as we continue our journey in life together. I thanked God for making me see the importance of marriage, family, faith and love. Yes, life is definitely full of challenges; it shapes us to learn courage, perseverance, humility, trust, faith and love.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails…” (1 Cor 13:4-8a)
On the wedding day, as I walked down the aisle, I saw my husband with so much anticipation as he patiently waited for me at the altar. The moment was breathtaking. Finally, we tied the knot in front of God witnessed by our children, family and friends. Taking the Holy Eucharist as a “sacramentally” married couple never felt so good. My heart was overflowing with joy that I couldn’t contain the tears from flowing down my face. I realized it is not the struggles, the challenges, the pain in life that I should focus on, but the joy of having one another as we continue our journey in life together. I thanked God for making me see the importance of marriage, family, faith and love. Yes, life is definitely full of challenges; it shapes us to learn courage, perseverance, humility, trust, faith and love.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails…” (1 Cor 13:4-8a)