WEDDING BELLS
Ok, fine. So I did the merlion again; and on the matrimony day, no less. Hurrying to the Ladies twice in successive running, the newly-weds were about to walk down the aisle when I emerged from the washroom for the second time. It's sweet, really, watching Chee Foo's and Xiao Wei's back as they walked arm in arm down the aisle. I stood outside the entrance to the Ladies and waited until the door to the matrimony hall has closed behind the newly-weds before entering the hall quietly and stood at the back of the hall where the rest of the ushers were.
Anyway, before the commencement of the matrimony, the radiant groom walked past the rows which I was ushering. Uncertain of whether does he recognize me, I held out my hand in congratulations and asked tentatively, "Congrats!!! Do you remember me?" Come to think of it, the only times when we've met is when Xiao Wei officially introduced him to our Cell Group, which is like, donkey months ago. And the last time I bumped into him was a couple of weeks back on the week of Christmas, when I was helping out as a Santarina for the Sunday service. To my pleasant surprise, he recognizes me, and mentioned that I look different from the photos. Unabashedly, I quipped, "Prettier, isn't it?" He replied, "Ehh.. Ya" And I answered smugly and exuberantly, "Aiyo, of course, lah!" He was visibly taken back when he heared my reply. He quickly recomposed himself, and the faint look of surprise on his face was then replaced by amusment, and he threw me a grin.
Gotta give him credit for it, really. I'm incorrigible at recognizing faces. Plain downright hopeless.
After the matrimony has ended, the male ushers had to help out in stacking the chairs. Angeline, by then, had left to join her Cell Group. Well, I could similarly go off, join my Cell Group at the rooftop, and indulge my growling and rumbling stomach which has been complaining since 11am. But it just doesn't feel right. Afterall, we reported for our usher duty together, and how could I leave them just like that? Not wanting to go ahead without them, I waited for Kelvin Lim, Zhi Wei, and De Quan (the poor guys. It's times like these when I think that it's a blessing to have XX sex chromosomes instead of XY) and whaled my time away by sifting through Mr. and Mrs. Wong's wedding album.
Anyway, while princess (yes, it's yours truly again) was waiting for the 3 macho and muscular guys, Ling Qiang, the usher IC of the day, passed me a small stack of red packets, and asked me to distribute it to the ushers. Gosh!!! What a pleasant and sweet surprise, really. I'm caught nonplussed by the kind gesture. I hadn't expected anything at all. Afterall, it's only ushering and nothing much. That's Xiao Wei; always so gentle and thoughtful. Anyway, we reached the rooftop just in time too, for a photoshot. And we rushed down for service after that. I was so deadbeat tired (I slept at close to 3.00am and woke at 6.45am, leh) that I slept soundly like a dead log all the way from Boon Lay MRT station to Expo MRT station.
Marriage is such a beautiful and sacred thing. And personally, I think that marriage is definitely more than living in matrimonial bliss and happily ever after. Yes, it involves these two, but it also encompasses more than that.
Marriage - in my opinion - is the sacred union of two individual souls, bonding of two flesh into one, and beautiful intertwine of two different lifes. The cessation of "I" and "you", but hereby the existence of "we". It is the embarking on a new chapter, a new journey, together as an entity - not as individuals. Picking each other up. Cheering each other on. Being each other's personnal cheerleader. Reaffirming the other party occasionally. Encouraging each other when needed. Sharing of burden as well as happiness. Rendering discerned and wise advises. Cooing to each other's hurts and nursing each other's bruises. Sharing of heart-felt opinions and feelings. Crying together, and rejoicing together.
Simply put, it's Level5 communication.
And I feel that marriage is one of the few safety refuge where you can afford to just be yourself, and be true to your inner self. It's one of the few much-coveted havens where you can simply let your guards down, grief your heart out, and express your darkest secrets, deepest disappointments, inner fears, heavy worries, hefty anxiety and whatnot. Unlike what the society or workplace expects so demandingly, there exists the luxury of not requiring any facades or putting on of strong front in a marriage. You can just be who you really are deep inside, and no one will laugh, despise, make fun of, or tsktsk at you. And that, in my opinion, is the innermost beauty of marriage - knowing that there will always be a reliable pillar to count on, someone who tries to understand and, instead of pushing you to measure up to some invisible expectations or criticizing you for being weak and not stout or stalwart enough, accepts the soft side of human nature and delights in the real portrayal of the inner you which is normally locked away and kept frpm the public eye.
The trust, the unconditional love, the never-dying support, and the mutual understanding - what more can one ask for?
And you can share your biggest dreams and innermost, dearest ambitions, and not have to worry about being teased or being labelled as overly-ambitious or an unrealistic dreamer. Instead of critics, there will be a supportive cheerleader to cheer you on.
And personally, I find it beautiful when a man cries to his wife. It just takes my breath away. But not wailing or bawling away in public like a crybaby over a trival matter, of course.
It's simply so touching when a man puts aside his ego and manly pride and - despite his long-sleeve shirt, sharp blazer, power tie, big buckle belt, shiny leather shoes - tear to his loved ones and be true to himself. It's definitely not cowardy or sissy. Not at all. On the contrary, I find that men who allow themselves to cry are much more braver than those who don't. It takes courage to cry, but it requires twice as much to portray who you really are, and how you really feel, deep inside. Men who allow themself to tear are courageous and real to themselves, really. They're so brave.
A man tearing and expressing his emotions, thinking, and feelings; it is just like a strong career woman who calls the shots at work being submissive, gentle, and loving at home. Such breath-taking beauty. Such an awe-commanding sight to behold.
Marriage is a covenant between two individuals. A promise to stand by and love each other no matter what; in richness and poverty, in sickness and in health, till death do us part. It is a declaration that you'll be with each other for the rest of your life, once and for all. And most importantly, it's an oath to continue loving each other no matter what; even when you've been hurt so deeply or disappointed so badly.
It is an oath that you'll never give up on him/her come what may, no matter what he/she has done, said, or committed.
Marriage is so beautiful.
Ok, fine. So I did the merlion again; and on the matrimony day, no less. Hurrying to the Ladies twice in successive running, the newly-weds were about to walk down the aisle when I emerged from the washroom for the second time. It's sweet, really, watching Chee Foo's and Xiao Wei's back as they walked arm in arm down the aisle. I stood outside the entrance to the Ladies and waited until the door to the matrimony hall has closed behind the newly-weds before entering the hall quietly and stood at the back of the hall where the rest of the ushers were.
Anyway, before the commencement of the matrimony, the radiant groom walked past the rows which I was ushering. Uncertain of whether does he recognize me, I held out my hand in congratulations and asked tentatively, "Congrats!!! Do you remember me?" Come to think of it, the only times when we've met is when Xiao Wei officially introduced him to our Cell Group, which is like, donkey months ago. And the last time I bumped into him was a couple of weeks back on the week of Christmas, when I was helping out as a Santarina for the Sunday service. To my pleasant surprise, he recognizes me, and mentioned that I look different from the photos. Unabashedly, I quipped, "Prettier, isn't it?" He replied, "Ehh.. Ya" And I answered smugly and exuberantly, "Aiyo, of course, lah!" He was visibly taken back when he heared my reply. He quickly recomposed himself, and the faint look of surprise on his face was then replaced by amusment, and he threw me a grin.
Gotta give him credit for it, really. I'm incorrigible at recognizing faces. Plain downright hopeless.
After the matrimony has ended, the male ushers had to help out in stacking the chairs. Angeline, by then, had left to join her Cell Group. Well, I could similarly go off, join my Cell Group at the rooftop, and indulge my growling and rumbling stomach which has been complaining since 11am. But it just doesn't feel right. Afterall, we reported for our usher duty together, and how could I leave them just like that? Not wanting to go ahead without them, I waited for Kelvin Lim, Zhi Wei, and De Quan (the poor guys. It's times like these when I think that it's a blessing to have XX sex chromosomes instead of XY) and whaled my time away by sifting through Mr. and Mrs. Wong's wedding album.
Anyway, while princess (yes, it's yours truly again) was waiting for the 3 macho and muscular guys, Ling Qiang, the usher IC of the day, passed me a small stack of red packets, and asked me to distribute it to the ushers. Gosh!!! What a pleasant and sweet surprise, really. I'm caught nonplussed by the kind gesture. I hadn't expected anything at all. Afterall, it's only ushering and nothing much. That's Xiao Wei; always so gentle and thoughtful. Anyway, we reached the rooftop just in time too, for a photoshot. And we rushed down for service after that. I was so deadbeat tired (I slept at close to 3.00am and woke at 6.45am, leh) that I slept soundly like a dead log all the way from Boon Lay MRT station to Expo MRT station.
Marriage is such a beautiful and sacred thing. And personally, I think that marriage is definitely more than living in matrimonial bliss and happily ever after. Yes, it involves these two, but it also encompasses more than that.
Marriage - in my opinion - is the sacred union of two individual souls, bonding of two flesh into one, and beautiful intertwine of two different lifes. The cessation of "I" and "you", but hereby the existence of "we". It is the embarking on a new chapter, a new journey, together as an entity - not as individuals. Picking each other up. Cheering each other on. Being each other's personnal cheerleader. Reaffirming the other party occasionally. Encouraging each other when needed. Sharing of burden as well as happiness. Rendering discerned and wise advises. Cooing to each other's hurts and nursing each other's bruises. Sharing of heart-felt opinions and feelings. Crying together, and rejoicing together.
Simply put, it's Level5 communication.
And I feel that marriage is one of the few safety refuge where you can afford to just be yourself, and be true to your inner self. It's one of the few much-coveted havens where you can simply let your guards down, grief your heart out, and express your darkest secrets, deepest disappointments, inner fears, heavy worries, hefty anxiety and whatnot. Unlike what the society or workplace expects so demandingly, there exists the luxury of not requiring any facades or putting on of strong front in a marriage. You can just be who you really are deep inside, and no one will laugh, despise, make fun of, or tsktsk at you. And that, in my opinion, is the innermost beauty of marriage - knowing that there will always be a reliable pillar to count on, someone who tries to understand and, instead of pushing you to measure up to some invisible expectations or criticizing you for being weak and not stout or stalwart enough, accepts the soft side of human nature and delights in the real portrayal of the inner you which is normally locked away and kept frpm the public eye.
The trust, the unconditional love, the never-dying support, and the mutual understanding - what more can one ask for?
And you can share your biggest dreams and innermost, dearest ambitions, and not have to worry about being teased or being labelled as overly-ambitious or an unrealistic dreamer. Instead of critics, there will be a supportive cheerleader to cheer you on.
And personally, I find it beautiful when a man cries to his wife. It just takes my breath away. But not wailing or bawling away in public like a crybaby over a trival matter, of course.
It's simply so touching when a man puts aside his ego and manly pride and - despite his long-sleeve shirt, sharp blazer, power tie, big buckle belt, shiny leather shoes - tear to his loved ones and be true to himself. It's definitely not cowardy or sissy. Not at all. On the contrary, I find that men who allow themselves to cry are much more braver than those who don't. It takes courage to cry, but it requires twice as much to portray who you really are, and how you really feel, deep inside. Men who allow themself to tear are courageous and real to themselves, really. They're so brave.
A man tearing and expressing his emotions, thinking, and feelings; it is just like a strong career woman who calls the shots at work being submissive, gentle, and loving at home. Such breath-taking beauty. Such an awe-commanding sight to behold.
Marriage is a covenant between two individuals. A promise to stand by and love each other no matter what; in richness and poverty, in sickness and in health, till death do us part. It is a declaration that you'll be with each other for the rest of your life, once and for all. And most importantly, it's an oath to continue loving each other no matter what; even when you've been hurt so deeply or disappointed so badly.
It is an oath that you'll never give up on him/her come what may, no matter what he/she has done, said, or committed.
Marriage is so beautiful.
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