I went to the cemetary this morning, and there was a young family gathered around a marker. After the family left, I walked over to where they had been standing moments earlier. On the marker, the words, "Daughter, Wife, Mother, Grandmother" were set in a solitary heart. As I walked back to Faith and Natalies' graves, I began to think of all the roles they played in the lives of those who knew and loved them.
The moment I saw Faith, I was smitten. I knew I wanted to marry her that late summer day on the campus of the University of Connecticut. It was not a question of how I was going to spend my life with her, it was a question of, "how can I get her father to allow me to spend the rest of my life with her?" I gradually won the hearts of Faith's parents, and her father gave the blessing for marriage in the autumn of 1989. Faith was a daughter.
Over the course of our relationship, I have had a great opportunity to stand in amazement at the relationship Faith had with her siblings. On the Thanksgiving holiday in my senior year of college, Faith and I decided to travel to Tennessee. When I arrived at their house, I was given a friendly warning. "My sister is a saint. Don't hurt her feelings." At the time, I thought this statement was going to symbolize the relationship I held with Faith's brother. However, I now realize that the statement was given out of love for a sister. With three sisters of my own, I understand her brother's words. He was right; Faith is a saint. Faith was a sister.
We finally married on May 11, 1990. She was the most beautiful woman these eyes have ever seen, and I was the luckiest man for being able to look into those eyes every day. The ceremony was small, and her brother was even my best man. I suppose his words were water under the bridge by the time that day arrived. He knew I loved his sister. On that day, Faith became a wife.
Rachel arrived in May of 1992. Elijah was born in November of 1995. Brooks came along in March of 1997, Chase in October of 1999, and Natalie in May of 2001. Faith was beautiful when I met her. She was stunning on our wedding day. She was gorgeous while pregnant. I remind myself that women go into labor every day, but she made those fives days in our marriage look incredibly simple. Her love for our children, and her passion in raising them, is an area I miss now. She knew the answers before the questions were asked, an art that I have since tried to perfect; resulting in failure most of the time. Faith was a mother.
Faith fulfilled many other roles; granddaughter, niece, aunt, cousin, friend, etc. However, her most important roles were those she fulfilled for her Lord and for her family. Over the last four years, I have gained a greater appreciation for the woman I was lucky enough to meet; and even luckier to marry.
Joe
The moment I saw Faith, I was smitten. I knew I wanted to marry her that late summer day on the campus of the University of Connecticut. It was not a question of how I was going to spend my life with her, it was a question of, "how can I get her father to allow me to spend the rest of my life with her?" I gradually won the hearts of Faith's parents, and her father gave the blessing for marriage in the autumn of 1989. Faith was a daughter.
Over the course of our relationship, I have had a great opportunity to stand in amazement at the relationship Faith had with her siblings. On the Thanksgiving holiday in my senior year of college, Faith and I decided to travel to Tennessee. When I arrived at their house, I was given a friendly warning. "My sister is a saint. Don't hurt her feelings." At the time, I thought this statement was going to symbolize the relationship I held with Faith's brother. However, I now realize that the statement was given out of love for a sister. With three sisters of my own, I understand her brother's words. He was right; Faith is a saint. Faith was a sister.
We finally married on May 11, 1990. She was the most beautiful woman these eyes have ever seen, and I was the luckiest man for being able to look into those eyes every day. The ceremony was small, and her brother was even my best man. I suppose his words were water under the bridge by the time that day arrived. He knew I loved his sister. On that day, Faith became a wife.
Rachel arrived in May of 1992. Elijah was born in November of 1995. Brooks came along in March of 1997, Chase in October of 1999, and Natalie in May of 2001. Faith was beautiful when I met her. She was stunning on our wedding day. She was gorgeous while pregnant. I remind myself that women go into labor every day, but she made those fives days in our marriage look incredibly simple. Her love for our children, and her passion in raising them, is an area I miss now. She knew the answers before the questions were asked, an art that I have since tried to perfect; resulting in failure most of the time. Faith was a mother.
Faith fulfilled many other roles; granddaughter, niece, aunt, cousin, friend, etc. However, her most important roles were those she fulfilled for her Lord and for her family. Over the last four years, I have gained a greater appreciation for the woman I was lucky enough to meet; and even luckier to marry.
Joe
posted by Joe | 8:07 PM
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