The wedding was lovely, an amazing setting on the most perfect of days, a couple so strikingly beautiful and in love; my heart was so moved for them. I was so thankful they finally met; this bride had waited a long time for someone to love her. Her the little girl she was, the young woman that wondered if she'd ever have what Her soul longed for, the beauty she has become after years of being molded into Her.
There were things, just a couple, that bothered me this day. A bride who should've been gifted a wedding, instead she did it all on her own. The blood, sweat, tears and cash she put into it were evident, it was so perfect and so her, filled with grace, beauty, peace, yet simplicity and with a lot of fun. What a gift pinterest can be, it was a smashing beautiful success!
Secondly the gentleman who married them, he plugged his website, right there during the ceremony. It bothered me even more when I asked the Bride and Groom if he'd okayed it with them ahead of time; nope. Seriously this lacked so much class and "respect", this instant of two souls committing, vowing, promising is between them and in my opinion a sacred moment. The sacrament of a wedding is serious and deep, a moment when time seems to stop as two hearts become one; website plugging does not belong.
On the other hand, said "preacher" did speak directly to the Bride (rather than referring her to his website...) expressing the importance of her showing respect for her husband. Please can I get an amen! He went on to explain how men are not women and what feeds them, nourishes them, helps them grow, etc. is to be shown respect, true respect.
I loved this so much because I have seen not only how true it is but how utterly important it is in a good marriage relationship. I wanted to reiterate this to the Bride, so I did (o: as she was sitting at our table. Another woman at table said, "yeah I need to get that website, I need that" my response, "no that is for husbands, not for us women", response "I know, I want see it so I can tell my husband, what it says", my final response, "it doesn't work that way."
Yes a man should be loving his wife, but that last thing he needs from his wife is to be told that. The first and last thing he needs from his wife is respect, he is a man. A man who is respected by his wife will soar. There are times every now and then when I verbalize to my husband the respect I have for him, I am blown away at what it means to him and does for him.
I do get that I am married to an amazing man, he is gifted beyond measure, his character and integrity never cease to impress me, the way he treats me and loves me is actually astounding. But there is a part of me that can not help but wonder, just maybe I am this "lucky" partly because of the way I have chosen to view our relationship. We each have responsibilities that are very different from one another, the more I focus on mine rather than his, the more blissful my married life seems to become.
It's what I want more than anything for my own children; other than to know the true Love of the Lord God, it's what I want for these two.
A life realizing that marriage is actually a fantastic gift filled with more than one can ever ask for or imagine, to be enjoyed and celebrated over and over.
Wives, respect your husbands; in action, word and heart. It'll honor your man and you just might receive some sweet love in return.
