25 A wedding is not a Marriage

These couples want to make me renew my vows tomorrow to my lovely wife…" said the Pastor. " Your turn Joseph… tell her how much you love her"

"Loving you was the best decision I have ever made… you have showed me love… in my whole life I have only loved one girl and I couldn't live with her… and knowing that that girl is you, makes me don't want to be on another place rather than being with you… I have constrain our love in heaven and the day I will stop loving you is the day I will be in heaven to separate what I have constrained up there…the Lord has to forgive me, for I think I love you more than HIM." J.R said.

"Marriage is from God, he alone can give you the happiness which from beyond human expectations and which grow deeper through the struggles and difficulties of Life…Put your trust in God as you set out together in LIFE…the rings please" said the Pastor. You know a ring is a symbol of love a token of appreciation towards one another, I find it hard sometimes when I found out that some have removed their rings just to commit adultery, it is not like you are cheating your wife or husband but you definitely cheating yourself and God because no one forced you to say the words you said to him or her on your wedding day… you said what you felt that day.

It doesn't matter whether the ring is expensive or cheap but you having or wearing a ring of the person you love is greater than that.

You gain respect from people, even some tend to go for married people just to destroy what they have. Never ever look down on your marriage and start to compare because we all live completely different lives.

"Lord bless these rings of faithfulness and unbroken love, grant those who wear them, may they be faithful to each other, may they be united with you and live in peace and in mutual love, through Christ our Lord…Amen… the bride and groom should give exchange the rings" said the pastor.

"I give you this ring as a symbol of my love for you and my knowledge that I am marrying you and I am becoming much more than I am, I will keep my heart open to you all the days of my life" said Trevor as he slipped the ring into Mercy's finger.

"With this ring I share my love and promise to honour you and be faithful to our love" said Mercy slipping the ring into Trevor's finger.

"This ring is my gift to you, may it encircle your finger always as my love will with your heart, my heart belongs to you separate yet close, I will always be grateful to God for your presence in my life" J.R said this words placing the ring on my finger.

"I give you this ring as a sign that I choose you to be my lover, my partner and my best friend, may it always remind you that, you are surrounded by my love" I slipped it on his finger

"You may kiss your brides" said the Pastor.

Both our husbands kissed us, you know that kiss felt so warm, the first kiss being married, first kiss being a wife it is so sweet.

"What God has joined together, man must not separate, may the Lord confirm the consent that you have given and enrich you with his blessings…By the power invested in me, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife" said the Pastor.

Our husbands carried us out of the church, with joy and happiness that filled our souls.

Our wedding was fully packed, almost everyone who knew us was there, and also friends of our parents were all gathered to witness our wedding. In our culture we as Africans don't normally have a minimum of a guest list for our wedding but normally the whole township or suburban area will come and witness your wedding, just as long they know that in a certain house there's a celebration they will be there to support.

For the first time I shared the dance floor with my father in law and we both danced together on our reception. So did my husband, he too danced with my mother so my father danced with Mrs Radebe. While I was dancing with my father in law, he gave me more principles.

"See now that you are married dear child, you need to submit to your husband at all times" he said

"I hear you sir" I replied. In our culture you don't look or stare elders in the eyes I had to look aside while I was dancing with him. Back in the days you weren't even allowed to dance with him so things are changing day by day in this new Morden life.

"A wedding is not a marriage…" he said.

"WH… what do you mean sir?" I probed, that is when I came to realise that. I am honestly getting a mouth full.