I'll Stand By You

As I was putting my living room back together, I came across our wedding album. I turned from page to page, reminiscing about one of the most perfect days in my life. We were young. We were head over heels in love. We were also completely ignorant of what a marriage was really like, and clueless to where our lives would lead. As I came across this photo, my heart fell heavy.

In my head, I heard the song that was playing as our grandparents and parents came to the front of the church and lit the candles from generation to generation, family to family. Finally, my candle was lit, Brett's candle was lit. We both took our own candles, representing our own sides of the family, and joined them together to light our Unity Candle. At the time, mindless to the symbolism that one day would come to be. That moment in time proceeded the battle we would all fight together, as one unit, one squad. I am so blessed by every person pictured in this picture. Every single one of them has played a role in supporting, loving, caring and sharing in our lives most challenging and most happy moments. I can honestly say that at that moment in time I had no clue what that entire Unity Candle ceremony meant, but sitting here today I now understand. It is amazing how God works in mysterious ways to guide us to do certain things that may not, at the time, make much sense. I bet my grandparents and parents didn't really grasp why it was so important to me that all 20 of them take turns lighting gobs of candles. It wasn't for show. It wasn't for glitz or glamor. It was all to pave the way for the help, support and love that I would need during this time.

The story gets better. The song that Brett chose to be played during this time was just a trendy song at the time remade by his favorite female singer, Carrie Underwood. I liked the song, and thought the words were nice. Little did I know that one day I would really, genuinely have to live out the words. I thank God for this song, for that moment, and for each person in the photo.

Oh why you look so sad

The tears are in your eyes

Come on and come to me now

Don’t be ashamed to cry

Let me see you through

Cause I’ve seen the dark side too

When the night falls on you

You don't know what to do

Nothing you confess

Could make me love you less

I’ll stand by you

I’ll stand by you

Won’t let nobody hurt you

I’ll stand by you

So if you're mad get mad

Don’t hold it all inside

Come on and talk to me now

Hey, what you got to hide

I get angry too

Well I’m a lot like you

When you're standing at the crossroads 

And don't know which path to choose

Let me come along

Cause even if you're wrong

And when, when the night falls on you, baby

You don't know what to do 

You're feeling all alone

You won't be on your own

Oh I’ll stand by you

I’ll stand by you