There are exactly 3 weeks until my marriage to Frank. I think back on our relationship, and am so thankful for the many blessings we have received. Frank is a zealous, God-fearing man who is able an willing to lovingly help me on my path towards the Kingdom of God. He is also humble enough to admit he is wrong, even when a majority of the blame actually falls on me. We share many interests in common, such as reading, history, classic film, healthy living, and science fiction (a bonus for me :) ) and both enjoy living simply. I am also greatly aware of the struggles that we have both been through these last four years - both of our familial upheavals, both of our academic pursuits, my study abroad in Chile, all on top of trying to discern the attitudes and behaviors appropriate in true Christian courtship have both strained and strengthened our relationship. I know the future holds many more joys and challenges for us. I am thankful that, as we will symbolize (in the Schmemmann sense of the word) at the service on July 12, we both have the Gospel of Christ's victory over death as the very center of our new life together. If we remind ourselves (and each other) where we are headed, I pray that we can avoid the petty disagreements and grudges that can eat away at a marriage. This sacrament (mystery) that we are bout to partake in will last much more than the 45 minutes we will stand in church that day. We are going to be ordained in the vocation of husband and wife, to bear each others' burdens, raise our children in God's holy Church, and help each other and those around us on our journey to the Kingdom of God. We will be renewing this ordination each and every day for the rest of our lives.At times I worry what I would do if anything ever happened to Frank and I were left alone. Pain grips me just imagining my sorrow. However, I know that come what may, he and I will have been united by God and will remian united throughout all of eternity in our shared love of our Creator. In God's holy Wisdom, I am hopeful that in the age to come, when all the dead are raised and every knee shall bow and worship the One True God in Trinity, Frank and I will be kneeling side by side, singing in unison our hymn to God. May He grant us such a blessing! Amen.
