Yesterday was the epitome of a ‘picture perfect’ day.  Blue skies, sunshine and seventy something.  The kind of day that reminds us to live in the moment.  Close our eyes; feel the cool breeze and the warm sunshine on our face.  Deep breath.  Ahhh…  Perfection.

The groom was all smiles and the bride was absolutely breathtaking… her gown a soft creamy white with delicate jewels and a veil that sparkled in the sunlight.  It was a glorious day for a wedding.

Weddings are magical.  A window into that fresh, warm feeling of new love. Just sitting there in the church, you could feel the happiness, the excitement, the anticipation… I started to reminisce about that day, our day, over twenty-eight years ago.  About to say “I do” to the man who I loved more than anything.  Yes.  There would be hard times, we were warned.  Marriage is a roller coaster.  Ups. Downs.  Some really sharp turns.  Sure.  Life happens.  You learn to hold each other close during the good times, and even closer in the bad.  Yet; as I sat there yesterday, filled with emotion, I realized something very important.  In all of the advice that we received… Everyone had failed to mention one very unexpected consequence of marriage.  When I was waiting to walk down the aisle on our wedding day, I was as happy as you can be without exploding out of your own skin.  Yes.  That happy.  I was absolutely certain that I could never love this man any more than I did at that very moment. 

I was so wrong. 

“I thought I loved you then”.  My thoughts, put to music by Brad Paisley.  Listen with your heart.  If your eyes fill with tears when you hear this song, then I pray that you, my friend, feel blessed as well.  And so I feel a certain sense sense of responsibility to forewarn our newlyweds… This is (if you are so blessed) an unforeseen consequence to a long and happy marriage.  So consider yourself warned.  As for us, this is a marriage that (God willing) still has a long, long way to go.

“What I can’t see is how I’m ever gonna love you more; but I’ve said that before.  Now you’re my whole life; now you’re my whole world.  I just can’t believe the way I feel about you, girl.  We’ll look back someday at this moment that we’re in.  And I’ll look at you and say…

and “I thought I loved you then”.   Brad Paisley