On August 29, 2015, I had the privilege to officiate the Wedding Vow Renewal of my life long friend, Nichole Uthe and her husband Frank.

I would like to share an excerpt that I read at their ceremony:

As I was preparing to create this celebration of love for Frank and Nichole, I asked Nichole what is your objective of your celebration? What do you want others to know? She used the word, sustain. I was quite impressed. When I researched the word sustain in the dictionary, these examples were mentioned.

1. To support, hold, or bear up from below; bear the weight of, as a structure.
2. To bear (a burden, charge, etc.).
3. To undergo, experience, or suffer (injury, loss, etc.); endure without giving way or yielding.
4. To keep (a person, the mind, the spirits, etc.) from giving way, as under trial or affliction.
5. To keep up or keep going, as an action or process: to sustain a conversation.
6. To supply with food, drink, and other necessities of life.

Thirteen years ago, there was a moment when a decision must be made. Ultimately these two people who love each other asked themselves how much they hope for as their love grows and deepens. Because it is the nature of love to create, a marriage itself is something, which has to be created, so, that, together they became as one. Thirteen years in the past, Frank and Nichole never would have known the journey they would take to sustain the path of heaven and hell to bring them to the present. This moment, this time, what they have both achieved together, they have failed each other, given the other hope, and survived days of frustration. These two individuals have sustained what could have seemed to some as impossible, and overcoming obstacles that many couples are too weak to endure. They could have just opened the box of divorce and threw the greatest free gift they were given “Time” away. You see, now a day most couples want the Cinderella story, they only want the times of joy, and never sorrow, only want happiness and never pain. But as Frank and Nichole are demonstrating today, they are reminding us no matter how hard it may seem, no matter how much they want to quit, together they Stand, they Do NOT give up. They remember the vows they made in the beginning, through trial and error they have learned that those vows are not to be taken lightly. The promise they made to the other, which says, no matter what path you choose to walk, I am your strength, I am your helpmate and I am here to stay.

What is the lesson learned? These two wonderful individuals made a decision. That no matter how tough their marriage would get, they made a commitment from the beginning that "Love would endure." Just as Nichole wanted, together they have learned how to sustain.

What trials are you battling that you could use this same life lesson? Do not give up on those who have been beside you because this moment in your journey together, has become uneasy. Use this time to grow and to flourish just like Frank and Nichole did.

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