Love remains.

I can't wait to get our wedding photos back so I can share them all with you, but until then I wanted to share my heart. 

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

We only have this one life here on earth.

The beauty and comfort in that truth is that we don't get just one shot at it. We serve a God of second chances. A God who doesn't require that we pick up the remains of the aftermath, but who completely restores our life and makes all things new. 

I'll never forget they way I felt the moment I stepped up to the alter, joined hands with Ryan and listened as pastor Don began to read aloud the lyrics to the song I chose as I walked down the aisle:

"There is good news

There is good truth
That you could never change
No matter what you do
You are loved
More than you know
More than you could hope for
After everything you've done

As sure as the sun will rise
And takes away the night
His mercy will not end
His mercy will not end

There is good news
There's a promise
That no matter where you go
You will never be alone
In the dark
In the doubting
When you can't feel anything
Oh, his love remains the same

As sure as the sun will rise
And takes away the night
His mercy will not end
His mercy will not end

Even through the night
Silver stars will shine
Hope of glory's light
That will wake us once again

As sure as the sun will rise
And takes away the night
As sure as the sun will rise
His mercy will not end
His mercy will not end"

As Sure As The Sun by Ellie Holcomb. 

I didn't intend to get teary-eyed or a little weepy, but the second I heard those lyrics I typed in bold I could barely hold back the tears. 

There was something about having that song read back to us as part of our marriage covenant that not only brought the tears; it brought the picture and purpose of marriage exactly the way it was created by our Heavenly Father to life. 

Seconds before I felt giddy, filled with joy and overwhelmed with gladness.  

As Pastor Don continued to read, I was quickly sobered and filled with humility because not only has my savior loved me at my darkest and when I didn't want to feel anything, so has Ryan. 

I stood up there with Ryan and a room full of loved ones, most of my village in that little chapel where we were wed, who have all loved me not just on the good days but also at my darkest. 

In that moment I felt so undeserving, yet so much gratitude that God would choose to give me this life. 

I feel so much comfort and freedom in trusting Ryan to love me unconditionally during our lifetime here on earth, and even more freedom in the truth that marriage is not just about us. It's not just about the song or the dress or wedding "stuff".

Marriage is a metaphor of Christ and the church. 

A picture of unconditional love. The commitment and the laying down of one's life for the one whom your soul loves.

Not just on the good days. In the dark days. In the days of doubting. 

In seasons of life when we need our savior and where God's infinite love and mercy abounds...

His love remains the same. 

In seasons of marriage when our infinite, unconditional love for each other abounds and we choose to choose each other everyday through it all..

Love remains.

Days when we love each other at our darkest. When we work together raising our children. When we laugh together until we can't breathe and our sides hurt. 

Even on the days in between when we're just content to be still and sit together without saying a word...

Love remains.