Why Be Married? For the Miracle of Love and Life

This is a guest blog post from Sue Wiygul Martin, whose unfolding story on her new blog should stir anyone who has ever felt depressed, disabled, or bedeviled. It is a celebration of that wonderful moment when we declare our intention to encounter life as a twosome. In Sue’s case, it was clearer than at many weddings how big a challenge that can be. Fortunately for all of us, they are still together all these years later.
Two days before our wedding I returned from The Seeing Eye with my first guide dog. Two and a half years before our wedding I was depressed enough to attempt to end my life. The day of our marriage was a miracle.
“Ready?” said my father. He turned his head towards me and I could hear the smile in his voice.
“Ready,” I said. Walking with Sadie at heel, I took Daddy’s arm and we walked into the living room.
“Who gives this woman to be married to this man,” intoned Grady.
“Frances and I do,” and Daddy placed my right hand in Jim’s and then faded back to sit with my mother.
“Please kneel,” said Grady as the ceremony drew to a close. I knelt on the needlepoint kneeler that I had especially chosen. It depicted Jesus performing his first miracle, that of turning water into wine. This was a miracle.
Just two and a half years after I felt that life was not worth living, I was marrying the man I loved and I was poised to move forward into a new life. As I knelt, I discovered that Sadie had been lying quietly with her chin resting on the kneeler the entire time. With my right hand in Jim’s left and my left hand resting on Sadie’s head, Grady blessed our marriage.
Telling us to turn around and face our friends and family, Grady said, “Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs. James T. Martin.”