WORLD MARRIAGE DAY

WORLD MARRIAGE DAY
By Joseph Furnari

This is the day we put aside to celebrate the gift of marriage.
A time to wander down memory lane; to remember that special day.
Standing there before the altar of God, slightly nervous, anxiously awaiting the moment for her to appear in the doorway. Here it is forty-five years later and I can still remember the moment that she walked through the door. Her dad along side, she held on to his arm. She is beautiful; all dressed in her white gown , bright shining face so beautiful.
It is good to have a day to remember and reflect on those forty-five years of joy, laughter, tears and pain. The gift of three wonderful children and now four grandchildren to embrace and love.
Like every marriage we have our ups and downs but with God’s help we journey on.
In my lifetime, I have been blessed with the gift of two special women who have been given a great love by God. My mom and my wife. About my mom, my sister said it best, "She was one Great Lady, full of love."
My wife, like my mom, has this enormous love for her God. I will never forget the day my wife said to me, "I will always love you, but you will always be second
in my life, because God will always be first."
I believe this is the very reason our marriage not only lasted but has helped us to share our love with family and friends.
Our marriage has not been without its difficulties. There have been hurts to one another that require a constant ongoing need for healings. Today young people find it so easy to run away from marriage at the first sign of difficulties, We have found over the years if we keep our focus on God, He continues to heal and lead us back to love.
Each night before we go to sleep, I bless my wife. As I awake, I thank God for the gift of her love.
A number of years ago we were looking for a way to always remember God in our marriage. So we gave our first gold wedding bands to a nun friend who made us new bands. Three rings of gold banded together. The center ring has cut tiny cross marks in it to represent Jesus; the two outer bands represent my wife and I. This is our constant reminder that it is Jesus who binds us to Himself and to each other.

Joseph Furnari