Mission to Marriage

Yesterday, I spent part of my afternoon doing something that’s become a regular event for me over the last few months – writing wedding cards!

It seems like every week (almost), that another lovely announcement arrives from one of our missionaries from our time serving together in Belgium and the Netherlands.

We can hardly keep up… which I suppose is a nice problem to have!

Opening every envelope feels like a little time capsule.

Monic and I always pause for a moment, smile at each other, and say something like, “Remember when…?” – and suddenly we’re right back in those mission days, surrounded by people we love.

Writing the cards, I find myself smiling, reminiscing, and feeling so much love for each of them.

So many special moments always come flooding back.

It’s crazy to think that the same young missionaries we once served alongside are now starting families of their own.

Time really does move quickly… but thankfully, it brings a lot of joy too.

At this rate, we might need to start budgeting for wedding cards as a monthly expense…! Right now, we buy 20 wee wishes cards at a time – all with a hint of Scotland on them!!

Reflecting this morning, I couldn’t help but think about how much God cares about relationships, covenants, commitments, and our love for one another that grows over time.

I know that marriage is such a beautiful reminder the best things in life are built intentionally, patiently, and with a lot of grace.

And in many ways, it reflects the kind of relationship God invites us into, a relationship centred in love, trust, and daily choosing each other.

It reminded me too of the invitation we’re given to have our “hearts knit together in unity and in love” (Mosiah 18:21).

And maybe that’s what makes moments like these so meaningful – we’re not just remembering the past, rather, we’re seeing how God continues to weave our lives together.

It made me grateful not just for these lovely young couples, but for the way God brings people into our lives for a season… and fortunately, so many dear friends, for a lifetime.

And perhaps that’s the quiet reminder for all of us this week: Love well, stay connected and celebrate people often.

Because I know the relationships we build, are those things that last longest.

What small thing could you do this week to strengthen a relationship that matters?