a wedding prayer.

This past weekend I attended my third wedding in two months. I’ve had quite the eventful time-of-year! There were many lovely words shared in each of the ceremonies and a few that struck a strong chord in my heart: “I honor you.”  “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16)

And this beautiful prayer was my favorite:

“Eternal God, creator and preserver of all life, author of salvation, and giver of all grace: Look with favor upon the world you have made, and for which your Son gave his life, and especially upon this man and this woman whom you make one flesh in Holy Matrimony.

Give them wisdom and devotion in the ordering of their common life, that each may be to the other a strength in need, a counselor in perplexity, a comfort in sorrow, and a companion in joy.

Grant that their wills may be so knit together in your will, and their spirits in your Spirit, that they may grow in love and peace with you and one another all the days of their life.

Give them grace, when they hurt each other, to recognize and acknowledge their fault, and to seek each other’s forgiveness and yours.

Give them such fulfillment in their mutual affection that they may reach out in love and concern for others. Amen.”

Wow. That is the marriage I hope to one day have. A marriage of souls with a shared focus on God with so much affection that love overflows into the lives of others…