What We Once Were | ✔

Epilogue

The four who changed the world, or themselves, which ever you decided as you read their stories, felt their pain, smiled at their happiness.

Now, in this final moment before their story ends, they gather one last time to celebrate something long cherished; a wedding.

Something they planned in college was now here, so long thought.

They were nervous, even the guests, as the bride came into view. Beautiful blonde hair tumbled down her back, curled to perfection revealing her soft face, her lips painted with a soft gloss, she looked like her grandmother in so many ways. She couldn't help but think that as she neared the alter, her ear parents watched from the front row, her mother cried as her dad held her arm, giving away his only daughter he loved so much.

Her best friend since highschool, now 22 she still loved her friend all the same, she sent a smile to her, her fiancé with jet black hair sat beside her, both wore rings on their fingers.

Her father kissed her cheek as she stood at the front, her hands clasped to his, her fiancé, they looked at each the same the day they meet years ago. With love.

The pastor read the words, all the words.

The pastor began, true happiness in his voice.

"We have come together at the invitation of Heather Kyles and Joseph Mason to celebrate the uniting in Christian love, their hearts and lives. This is possible because of the love God has created in them, through Jesus Christ."

The two looked at one another, love in their eyes.

"Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly." This abundant life, for many people, is an impossible dream, yet God wants us all to have this abundant life and proved His love for us by giving His Son, that we might have this life."

Joseph's heart leapt, God had chosen Heather for him.

"Another way that God provides for this "full" life is creating those who will love us. Joseph has found such in Heather, hearts and spirits were drawn together before today by the Lord of all creation. Two lives are not united by ceremony, but only in the power, love, and grace of God."

His mother cried, she was happy, thankful to God that her son found someone, but her heart would miss him.

"Joseph and Heather are here to publicly declare that because of Jesus Christ's love, they too can truly love one another. As God demonstrated His love in Jesus, our Lord, Joseph and Heather will demonstrate this God given love by giving themselves to one another and one for the other.

They have not reached this place alone, each has been given life by their parents. These, who gave to them life love, provision, are and will be, a vital part in their continued lives. Their love has borne fruit in Joseph and Heather. Love and respect for these will continue as they grow in their own love made possible by their parents." He paused looking up, the pastor smiles brightly.

"Who then has prepared this woman for marriage to this man?" He asked.

Heather's father stood along with his wife, "we do."

The bride, Groom, Best Man, Matron of Honor, Pastor, all move up the stairs, front of pulpit area, all nervous.

The pastor turned to the Bride and Groom, "Jospeh, no other human ties are more tender, no other vows are more sacred than these you are about to assume. You are entering into that holy estate which is the deepest mystery of experience, and which is the very sacrament of divine love."

The pastor looked to the groom. "Joseph, do you accept Heather be your wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony; will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only for her so long as you both shall live?"

Joseph smiled, "I will."

The pastor looked to the Bride. "Heather, will you have Joseph to be your wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony; will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only for him so long as you both shall live?"

She smiled, love in her words. "I will."

The pastor began to speak again, "Joseph, what symbol do you bring as a pledge of that sincerity of your vows?"

"A ring." He replied.

"Please remember, a ring is more than a symbol of your marriage. It is a seal of the vow you have made to one another. The circle of the ring is, as far as human eye can see, a perfect circle--with no beginning or end--so God too, has perfect love for you and wants you to love one another in His grace--never, never ending. This ring is made of precious metal. You also are precious in God's sight and now in the life of Joseph. When you are absent one from another, the presence of the ring reminds you to be faithful and to fulfill your vows to him." He paused flipping the page, he cleared his throat.

"Rings have historically been the sign of authority--used to seal documents and proclamations, you now accept this authority in your life."

"You may now place your ring on your Bride's finger." He told Joseph, he held the ring gently slipping onto her finger.

The pastor looked at Heather, "what symbol do you bring as a pledge of that sincerity of your vows?"

"A ring." She smiled.

He spoke again, "this ring is a seal, Joseph, vow to you. She presents this to you as a token of her submission to you in Jesus Christ. This is a symbol of leadership and privilege. God has placed you as head of the family. You must lead in worship, works and fellowship. As the weaker vessel she depends upon you for strength."

"You may now place your ring on your Bride's finger." He said to him, Jose slipped it on, his hand held hers softly.

"For as much as Joseph and Heather have consented in holy wedlock, and have thereto confirmed the same by giving and receiving each one a ring; by the authority committed unto me as a minister of the Church of Jesus Christ, I now declare you husband and wife, according to the ordinance of God, and the laws of the state of Maine, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen."

The pastor paused, he closed the book gently looking to the crowd then to the groom and bride.

"You may now kiss the bride." He told Joseph.

He had kissed her before, but this was special, this meant true love under God in which they just promised.

In the crowd, his sister and mother looked at them with love, grateful that Heather was chosen to be Joseph's, they squeezed other's hand as the bride and groom pulled apart, now husband and wife. The crowd stood, clapping, throwing rose petals into the air.

And this is where their story ends, another will began next year the bride and groom and the crowd will marry.

This is their story.