Many waters cannot quench love,

nor can the floods drown it.

- – -

In many other, if not most, countries, the choice of a marriage partner is influenced by money, by politics, by work, by trusted friends, and more often than perhaps we realize, by the will of parents.

In our culture, however, many suggest that the choice of a marriage partner is one of the very freest choices we make as human beings.

To what extent, really, is family meant to be involved in matchmaking? And if they are involved, to what degree does their involvement benefit or detriment this, one of our “freest choices”?

Zack and Audrey, it strikes me that during your courtship you had at least two tremendous decisions before you. The first was whether or not to move ahead in your relationship without the blessing of parents. And I know that the admonition to wait came initially as a surprise. The second decision, and one that followed logically, was whether or not Zack was worth the wait, and whether Audrey was worth the wait. For having made the decision to get married long ago, it was as if you needed to make this decision once again, yet this time in different circumstances and on different terms.

Well, now…today…your choices are clear.

Having chosen one another yet again, having waited patiently, and having received with joy the full blessing of your parents, it seems to me that the involvement of your parents did not infringe, but rather enriched your relationship. For yours is a tested, a refined, not a complete, but a love cultivated with time and effort, and through guidance and counsel.

Simply put, floods came. …And they could not drown your love.

Congrats guys!

photo: Callie Murray