Till Death Do us part

Are you listening, God?

How do I pray?

How do you relate to God?

Growth by Dependence

Conscious Commitment

A reader's heartwarming story of love and honor

by Kari Moroz

Chris and I were friends before we dated, so he was naturally there for me during my grandmother's illness, and ultimately, her death. It was an extremely difficult time for my family and me, because we were all very close to her. She suffered tremendously in the last few days of her life and it pained us horribly to see her in such agony. Chris would come to the house almost daily just to check on me or lend a shoulder if I needed to cry. Our romantic feelings bloomed just a few weeks after Grandmother passed away. She had always said I would find the "perfect one" and she just couldn't wait to meet him.

The realizations that Grandmother was gone and that Chris was probably my future husband seemed to blur together throughout the month of December. Grandmother had so badly wanted to see me married. And finally, I had found him. Tall and attractive, a great smile, a good Christian and strong leaderÑjust a few weeks too late for he and my Grandmother to be introduced to each other.

Not long after Chris and I were engaged, I began my search for that "perfect dress." While trying on gowns in a bridal boutique, I had a flashback of Grandmother. It was a memory of a time when I was still a child, around 11 or 12 years old.

I remembered sneaking into Grandmother's closet and finding my mother's wedding gown tucked safely in a garment bag. Carefully I took it out and, without hesitation, slipped it on with ease. I buttoned myself into it, all 25 buttons down the back. I took out my pigtails and brushed my long, blond hair. That handmade veil was much too elegant for my silly braids! I stared at my reflection in the mirror, trying to imagine myself ten years older. My thoughts wandered. "What will I look like