Chapter 2

The pink and red sky played up the beauty of her hair as nineteen year old Janet trotted down the carpet that had been laid out for the young bride to walk down. She glanced over at her father smiling. Somewhere halfway between the end and beginning of the aisle, she came to realization that the dream she had dreamed since she was just a little girl was coming true so rapidly that she imagined one day she might miss it. Janet wasn't even considering the fact that she might not be alive in forty years.

As they neared the end of the aisle, her father gently let go of her arm, wishing her the best of luck. Her careful movements up the steps made Michael, her soon to be husband, shed a tear.

Janet was about to make a promise she would keep with her for the rest of her life. She was about to promise two words that would not only change her life, but would change Michael's life as well. Those same two words that had previously led her to the road where her walk of faith with God began.

She briefly recalled the moment she would never forget. Sitting on her porch, wondering what she was missing in her life at only the young age of seven. Janet knew her heart was searching for something and had figured it to be spiritual. Something deep within her heart.

It was in that instant that she gave her life to Jesus. Quietly, she prayed a prayer that transformed her life into joy. Janet promised to make God the first love of her life, before any other person. "I will." she whispered in a soft tone. "I will live my entire life for you, Lord, because I know that you died for me and that God rose you from the dead and you are living in me."

Those two words that bonded her with God were about to bond her with Michael. Not pushing God away, but using their relationship to honor God. That was the dream Janet had planned all along. Living her wedded life for Jesus. Honoring Him in any way possible. That was how God designed marriage. Not to last a short time, but for two people to love each other forever.

Her smile brightened when she felt a small drop of water roll off her cheek. Janet glared at Michael, with that sparkle in her heart that showed through her eyes. "I do." she said softly, with an unmistakable, proud tone.

Her dream was passing through time, as if it was just any ordinary day. Janet had expected it to feel as though time had stood still when she spoke those words. It had almost seemed like time had stopped when she promised those words to God. Thoughts rushed in her mind of regret that she might miss this day and later wish she had treasured today as if it was her last.

Oddly, instead of imagining her mother's or an older family member's wedding, she pictured her daughter's special day.

The church bell ringing in the background disguised Janet's sniffles as her beautiful daughter walked down the aisle. All she could think about was her daughter promising those two special words with a texture in her tone. She never had such a perfect imagination. It never crossed her mind that she might not be there to watch it one day.

The softness of her satin gown waving with each movement of her hands brought Janet back into reality. She wasn't even sure she would have a daughter one day, much less a child. Janet tried her best to focus on the present instead of the future.

Her hopes were as one's should be. Only wishing for the best of life to come her way. Janet looked over the hard times heading her way as if they weren't even in existence. She only brought the positive of life. She had joy in her heart, not just in her eyes.

"I do."

Michael looked into Janet's eyes as if something had awaked his heart when he spoke those words and slid the ring on Janet's hand.

The rings meant nothing to Janet. They weren't the promise; they were the worldly treasure that was added in the story by humans. The real meaning behind the marriage was the relationship built on God. Janet thought of it as one of God's many gifts to us. She liked the fact that she got such a valuable treasure, but she knew it wasn't the key meaning in the marriage.

Janet could tell that Michael was thinking about the promising assurance in I and do. She related those two words to her life. When Michael and she were apart, they were nothing, but when they were together, they were one. It reminded her of the first time she had ever met Michael.