Weddings: A Growing Trend

Weddings seem to be the theme for 2008. In the five and a half months that we have been married, we have been to five weddings. Three of them were in the last two weekends.

Hubby, Andrew and I at the Andrew&Ashley's wedding.

Maybe it was due to the concentration of weddings this weekend but I noticed that these weddings have an interesting similarity. Hint: It's not cake, friends, family, brides, grooms, churches or any other wedding staple. It's the message that is being shared at the ceremony.

Now, my parents taught me from the time I was old enough to understand that there is a difference between love and like. Like is a feeling and something you have very little control over because it is affected by mood and the actions of others. Love on the other hand is a conscious decision and an action. 

The result? The ability to dislike another person and at the same time love them with all your heart.

The message that the officiants at all of these weddings is sending is the same as the one my parents gave me so long ago. Every morning when you wake up, you are given the chance to love God, your spouse, family, friends and, yes, your enemies. If you fail today, you have a new chance tomorrow. No, it's not always easy but love makes life worth living. The best part is that you don't have to wait on love to find you. You just have to make up your mind to participate.

Thank you to my parents for helping me pave the road to my own happiness. Without your wisdom on love, I was likely to have unrealistic expectations of love. Now I know that I am in control of my own 'happily ever after' and I shouldn't limit myself to the love that Hollywood portrays...the real thing has the potential to be so much better.