It is no secret that I am an avid follower of the Royal Family. As some would think, it is not their fortune that I am intrigued by, however it is the strict protocol and highest level of etiquette that they are famous for that I am drawn to. Therefore, needless to say I was glued to the television as were millions of others watching the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. It was the ultimate in pomp and circumstance, elegance, and sheer perfection. I am sure it will go down in history as one of the most (if not the most) beautiful weddings witnessed in the world. Apart from the picture-perfect weather, which is extremely rare in England, the gorgeous flowers, the ultimate in style and fashion worn by the guests and celebrities, the regality of the groom, and the stunning yet simplistic beauty of the bride there was something that stood out above any materialistic display — it was the overwhelming presence of LOVE.

There is something about the twinkle in the eyes of two people that cannot be overlooked when true love exists. Meghan had to have been in awe of the massive crowds and just the magnificence of her wedding day. But if you looked at her face when she gazed at her Prince there was one thing that was undeniable – LOVE! Of course, everything had to be perfect and every detail was orchestrated with the utmost precision, but the love of those two people was the supreme presence of the grand event. Many have said that protocol was broken by the couple holding hands and gazing at one another during the ceremony. The example stood before all the world to see, when true love exists it cannot be contained or restricted.

There is one person that if we did not know his name before Saturday, May 19, 2018 we certainly do know him now! He is none other than the Episcopal Presiding Bishop Michael Curry of Chicago, IL who delivered the sermon. Certainly, his powerful message was intended to pronounce an ecclesiastical blessing over the young couple, however his deeply passionate words seemed to deliver a charge to every wedding guest and viewer around the world. He urged us through the quotation of words from the late Dr. Martin Luther King to “Imagine this tired old world when love is the way – when love is the way, unselfish, sacrificial, redemptive! When love is the way.” It was as if he took the platform to use the unmistakable love between Harry and Meghan to start a movement mandating people to live in the presence and power of God’s unconditional love for the world. Within his 13-minute speech he managed to strategically and eloquently place love at the center of our natural, spiritual, and even political lives.

Each one of us was created through the power of love — the love of God our Father. Wherever and whenever true love is, God most assuredly is there. That is why the Bible urges us to love one another. I Corinthians chapter 13 gives us the bylaws for true love. “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered.” “Love bears all things, believes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” Saying “I love you” is easy for even a child to speak but it is the actions that follow that put the power and real meaning behind the statement.

Those three words are powerless and meaningless without action to substantiate them. We say we love, but how deep does our love go? Will it withstand the test of time, the forgiveness of mistakes, the dismissal of misunderstandings, let down of disappointment? Or will it fade, become irrelevant and eventually non-existent as we carry on with what we deem is most convenient and suitable for our self-pursuits. Take some time to assess how to live out your love declaration. Is it evident in your actions, not just spoken in empty words that have little or no feeling? Can people see the twinkle of God’s love in your eyes even when there are no words to be said? I pray that the example of love that the world witnessed between Harry and Meghan will last a lifetime for them; but even more importantly I am making sure that the love I profess to have for God and others is displayed in a manner that is unmistakably authentic.

Source: First Lady Denise