One month ago, on July 4th, my only daughter, Katie, married her college sweetheart, Benjamin Sung. For them it was a wonderful, glorious day! May it be the first of many happy ones together! Our two sons, Bobby and Peter, were groomsmen. Let it be said that my husband and I wore impossible-to-hold-back-smiles almost all day long.
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For me, it was one of my best days. Ever.
It’s hard to know where to start, other than to say, there are days that, if you are paying attention, you will experience an awareness that, this day will be among your very best days. Sometimes, you may not realize it until it is over, and that’s alright too. For when you have one of your best days, it stands out in your memory as a kind of timeless transformative experience.
I’ve been a parent for over 26 years. I’ve found that there are joys and holy moments that are both personal and intimate and known only to myself; nobody else will ever know them, save maybe those closest to me, because they are deeply ingrained in the memory of my heart. And yes, some of those quieter days are among my best days. But then, there are other days — “events” that are momentously shared and photographed and recorded. This day, the wedding day, was one of the those events that was full of joy, both the personal kind and the public kind.
The best days are the ones that shed light and meaning on every other day.
This is what I’m talking about. When you have babies and little children, you start to train them in the faith and morals that you wish to see them enter into and, God-willing, receive as their own. There are numerous conversations and teachable moments and experiences that you repeat over and over again, at every stage of growth in childhood and adolescence. It is hard, painful even, at times. You pray like crazy for these children. You often wonder if you should bother, but bother you do. Then you stand there in hope that something of what you know and say to be true is being heard, tested, adopted. You spend years building a case for the truth and efficacy of the Christian life, by first being challenged to live it yourself, warts and all… and then you pray that despite your own foibles, your marriage reflects something more than a partnership, but a marriage that begets love larger than itself… that marriage is a wedding of souls and purpose for the sake and the good of someone else –and later, several someones — other than yourselves.
And you pray some more. Lots more. And then you wait. You never know when one of your best days might happen.
For me, Katie and Benjy’s wedding was one of the best days: to see your adult child embrace their faith — and find a faithful mate who shares it — and enter into Holy Matrimony with full awareness of both the graces and the responsibilities therein, is a blessing that is an order of magnitude beyond just being proud of your child in the moment. No, this is a deep stirring that what you are watching unfold had divine origins, and that you somehow are being afforded the sublime privileged to partake in it. You cannot begin to describe the stunning gratitude that is bursting in your heart. For you are so grateful to God that you are there to witness a love grounded in something bigger than ourselves, greater than our emotions or ego, stronger than our doubts and problems, and more beautiful than wedding attire and flowers. You are experiencing something truly, eternally, significant. It is the gift of God’s love being made visible.
On July 4th we were privileged to witness two souls stand before God and do the seemingly impossible — something that can only be afforded by grace — pledge loving fidelity forever. To see the joy this couple had, and the confidence they have both in grace and in each other is extraordinary. This married love is the crowning of a chaste friendship that led to a slow-burn blossoming romance that has inspired their friends and their loved ones. It is proof that good flows from the goodness of God’s plan for men and women, and self-sacrifice before marriage becomes a firm foundation for happiness and blessings after the wedding day.
A sacramental marriage today is rapidly becoming counter-cultural. Let us pray for all married couples who try to follow the gospel’s lead to the best of their abilities and share their faith with their families and others through their vocation. Most especially, let us pray for the newlyweds that are among us. Their Christian witness will surely be put to the test. But despite any struggles to come, may they come to know and find the deepest truth of love is right there with them in those moments.
There. Is. No. Greater. Love. Than. This.
Katie and Benjy: may that Love always be the hallmark of your best days!
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Let me thank all of you who have kept our family and our new couple in your prayers! I have permission to share a few photos and details of the happy day here on the blog.
There was a nuptial Mass at our local church, with a reception that followed afterwards that afternoon. It was hot that day! 95 degrees! (When have we had a heat wave like that, New England?? Whew!)
Our new son-in-love is Benjy Sung, a middle school math and science teacher. The couple first met through a Christian camp years ago and stayed friends over the years, even as they both attended different colleges and study-abroad.
The wedding Mass had a bilingual (English and Cantonese) Liturgy of the Word and Prayers of the Faithful, and there was an East-meets-West flavor at the reception: We incorporated a Chinese tea ceremony, explained below.
Afterwards, the couple took off for a honeymoon while Bob and I entertained family guests at our home for the remainder of the July 4th weekend, before taking off on a week away in Maine ourselves. So here’s a few photos that we hope you will enjoy!
©Reinaldo Gutierrez Photography www.wix.com/reinaldogallery/professional (with cropping and effects by me in iPhoto)
©Reinaldo Gutierrez Photography www.wix.com/reinaldogallery/professional
(Screen shot from wedding proofs from Derby Studio, http://www.derbystudios.com)
©Reinaldo Gutierrez Photography www.wix.com/reinaldogallery/professional
“A time to dance…”
(Photo by a Facebook friend.)
©Reinaldo Gutierrez Photography www.wix.com/reinaldogallery/professional
©Reinaldo Gutierrez Photography www.wix.com/reinaldogallery/
professional
©Reinaldo Gutierrez Photography www.wix.com/reinaldogallery/
professional
(taken by a Facebook friend)
©Reinaldo Gutierrez Photography www.wix.com/reinaldogallery/professional
©Reinaldo Gutierrez Photography www.wix.com/reinaldogallery/
professional
©Reinaldo Gutierrez Photography www.wix.com/reinaldogallery/professional
L to R: Anita Sung, Pat Gohn, Bob Gohn, Francis Sung
©Reinaldo Gutierrez Photography www.wix.com/reinaldogallery/professional
7 comments on “One of my best days… (with scenes from my daughter and son-in-love’s wedding)”
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Absolutely beautiful post with even more beautiful pictures! What an incredible description of what every wedding should be about……..the coming together of two people in Love!
Karen, I’m learning from your experiences! Thanks for sharing.
The pictures of the wedding are delightful, but as a mother, I was really touched by your words. Beautiful!
My daughter Grace’s husband Dan is Taiwanese. Grace and Dan’s reception featured an authentic Chinese wedding feast. The menu included some surprises, such as the chicken head that my son Vincent found on his plate. (Yes, it was supposed to be there!) The couple didn’t have the tea ceremony, although I wish they had. We could do with a little more honoring of elders around here 😉
Best wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Sung!
P.S. How about posting pictures of the sequined Converse shoes?
Thanks Celeste! There is one shot of our sparkly footwear in the 6th photo from the top…. Katie work sequined Sperry boat shoes and I wore the sequined Chucks for the dancing!