Love letter

If you've followed the blog the last month or so, you know my daughter married last month and we subsequently welcomed her husband into our family with open arms!

One of the most tender moments of the day took place prior to the wedding ceremony and just before Lorie and Phil took their "first look." For wedding novices, the first time the bride and groom see each other on their big day has officially been titled "the first look" by lifestyle photographers.

Lorie and Phil decided to forego wedding gifts for each other, and opted instead to write a card or note to be delivered by the mistress of ceremonies immediately prior to "the first look." The wedding party gals and the two of us moms had finished dressing and we were fussing over Lorie's finishing touches as Phil's card was delivered.

Now I have no idea what that card said, or what words Phil wrote in his enclosed letter, but I can testify to Lorie's reaction as she read that love letter. Her soft smile disappeared and tears of emotion spilled from her eyes as she read Phil's affirmation of love. Her tears were joined with tears all around as we witnessed true love on display.

Throughout the entire day, the love Phil and Lorie share was evident in their expressions of pure joy. Lorie glowed. Phil beamed. Their love: undeniable.

Paul writes to the Corinthians to tell them they are letters. Letters written by God, not on paper, but in their hearts. From 2 Corinthians 3:2-6, Paul writes:

"Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read just looking at you. Christ himself wrote it-not with ink, but with God's living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives-and we publish it. We couldn't be more sure of ourselves in this-that you, written by Christ himself for God, are our letter of recommendation. We wouldn't think of writing this kind of letter about ourselves. Only God can write such a letter. His letter authorizes us to help carry out this new plan of action. The plan wasn't written out with ink on paper, with pages and pages of legal footnotes, killing your spirit. It's written with Spirit on spirit, his life on our lives."

My prayer is this:

Please help me glow with love for you, oh Lord of my life. Write your letter of love in the depths of my heart. May my love for You be evident in my daily expressions of pure joy! Thank you, Jesus. Amen