Recently I got to celebrate at not only one but two showers with Maria. At both parties all of the essentials were present: tasty snacks, a pile of gifts and doting friends and family.

There was much talk over cakes and coffee about what Maria and Andrew mean to us, and many pieces of
invaluable advice were imparted to the couple.
Between the two celebrations there was one common denominator – one thing stood out and made an impression in my heart.

It was their love.

Her eyes sparkle when she hears his name; she can’t keep a smile back when she gets a text from him, and she talks about his super-human greatness to every person she meets.
When two people truly love each other, you can see it in their eyes even when they’re not together. It is one of the most beautiful things on earth.

At the second shower, I was minding my own business and piling my plate high with candy and cupcakes when something shocking happened! I never imagined this happening but lo and behold, Andrew walked into the room!
Andrew! Everybody knows that the groom isn’t supposed to be at the bridal shower!
I’m not sure why he was there, but as I topped off my lemonade on my way back down to the party, that picture of his nervous smile and her giddy glow stayed with me.

I remember sitting on a ski lift over a year ago with Maria talking about her special man and thinking to myself, I really hope that they work out. It would be such a fairytale come true.
I see now, a year later, that true love isn’t really a fairy tale. It’s a lot of blood, sweat and tears. They both work all the time, Andrew is still in school and they don’t get to see each other much, but all their trials have only made them stronger. THEY are each others priority in life, bound together by their love of Christ.

This verse reminds me so much of Maria and Andrew because of their Godly focus, their passionate pursuit of each other and their fearless love.
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’ Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” -Hebrews 13:5-7

This is the couple that proves that true love always finds a way.

Nothing is as strong as that bond,
nothing is as hard to find,
and nothing is as beautiful.

So here’s to the radiant and powerful love that Maria and Andrew have found and the lifetime that they get to spend enjoying the blessing of their Godly relationship.