Today is a special day. One year ago Rachel and Matt were married in
Stillwater. The weather was
perfect. The sun illuminated an
already bright and beautiful love.
The fall breeze was soft and the laughter was constant. There was undeniable joy. No one could have expected what
life would bring just 11 months later.
Just a few weeks ago, Matt passed away suddenly and
unexpectedly. After just
twenty-eight short years, those whom he so greatly impacted had to say
goodbye. I’ve cried, like so
many who knew and loved Matt and know and love Rachel. A picture from their perfect day hangs
in my office- and each time I look at it my heart is nearly bursting with
emotion.
To have known their love in a unique way… to have known
Rachel for years and then see her and Matt get engaged, prepare for their
wedding, and become one. To have
understood the way they balanced one another, complimented each other, and
harmonized with one another was a privilege. To then follow them through their entire wedding and see
even more how much he adored her and she radiated joy around him was an
honor. To have spent time
with Rachel in the last few weeks and see a heart-broken wife learning again
what it means to breathe each day.
To breathe in and out, take one step and then another. To know that no words can encapsulate
what she is experiencing and no actions on my part can ease the pain.
So when I look at that image of Matt and Rachel in my
office, I feel a deep sorrow. But
somewhere beneath that is an unrelenting joy. It is a thankfulness that Rachel and Matt shared years of
memories, sweet love and growth and change. It is happiness that they had what was the most incredible
wedding day and were husband and wife for 11 months. It is a knowing that both Rachel and Matt were better for
knowing and loving each other- and that nothing, even untimely death, can take
that away.
Through tears, Rachel shared how much these photos mean to
her. How they captured Matt, how they captured their relationship, the emotions
they felt, the way they fit together.
Through tears, I felt gratitude that those images provide her comfort in
this time- even if a small comfort.
And I am realizing, among many things during this difficult time, that
this isn’t about pictures at all.
It is about people. It is
about purpose. It is about
celebrating love in a way that can be treasured for days, months, years and
decades. It is about not
forgetting. It is about always
remembering and finding joy in those memories.
Today is a hard, sad day. But I want to honor Matt. He was so full of smiles, joy, laughter.; he lived life
fully. I want to celebrate Rachel
and Matt together. The time they
had was beautiful. The love they
had was undeniable. I want to
encourage each and every person to truly live intentionally. Live fully and love deeply. Know that life is so very delicate, and
so very fragile. And yet know that
love is real, true and love like theirs lives on…
The picture within my office.
One of my favorites of them- because it is just so Rachel and Matt.
A sweet and beautiful love...
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