starting small - day 37: words from the heart
July 3rd, 2017 - This is the thirty-seventh day of a 40 day blogging challenge: some pictures and words each day. Come back tomorrow to see more posts!
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Good evening! For those of you who do not know me, my name is Graci. I am Megan’s younger sister by five years, and I like to pride myself with the title of her best friend. It is my great joy to be a witness this afternoon at the marriage of Megan and Michael. I have known Megan for a very long time, and I cannot tell you how long she has been dreaming of, planning for, and reenacting this day. I am so happy to finally be here celebrating it with all of you tonight.
As you might imagine, there is so much I could say about my big sister. You get to know someone very well after living with them for almost nineteen years… but because time is short and I’m not a public speaker, I’d like to share with you three lessons that I have learned from Megan over the years.
First, if you really know Megan, you know a woman filled with a love for life and a love for fun. Bubbly, extroverted, and joyful … these are just a few words to describe her. I know you probably have many words of your own along the same lines. Mom and Dad will still talk about the day that Megan was born, eyes wide open, very eager to make friends with the world. She succeeded at a young age in befriending nearly every kiddie at the community park which she would go to with mom. Her knack with and love for people persists to this very day. Megan is someone who can bring a smile and laugh into a room within minutes. And so, the first thing I learned growing up with Megan was a love for people.
This past March, Megan attended her first silent retreat. On her way up to the retreat, I remember, she called to me in New Hampshire and informed me that she was listening to the Beauty and the Beast Soundtrack as well as Hamilton: the musical, (which is nearly 100 percent rap) to immerse herself in all the “normal stuff” that she could before she was “holy” for a whole three days. I found this very humorous, of course, but I was so amazed when she called me again three days later. Despite her preconceived concerns about the silence and “holiness” Megan loved the retreat. And this is the second lesson I have learned from Megan: her love for the Lord and passion for the Catholic Faith, even when it means stepping outside of your comfort zone and making sacrifices… Megan has been such a witness of faith and zeal.
Over these years I have learned so much just watching my big sister grow. I learned to passionately hate math. I learned to get to the biggest cookie on the plate first. I also learned to sing in the shower. (Though I could never really pull that feat off quite as well as she did…) I watched Megan be bubbly, confident, cheerful, unafraid. She pursued her passions of music, education, and coffee doggedly and fearlessly. She succeeded and always tried again when she did not. And so the third and perhaps most crucial lesson that Megan has taught me is the importance of living virtuously and confidently in one’s own skin. Thank you, Megan.
These three lessons, love people, love God, and love yourself, have always been very easy to learn from Megan, because she lives them day in and day out. They come naturally to her, are her fiber, and make up who she is.
When Megan’s dreams of marriage started to become reality, I was hesitant that she would be able to find the perfect ‘someone’ who could support her in her faith, her energy, and her gifts. And then Michael entered the scene… I was thinking about this the other night, and I realized, there is no more progression in my mind for Megan and Michael more natural than marriage. And there is no name to match the sentiment in my heart for Michael other than “brother.” To say the least, he’s perfect.
I’ve heard the term “matches made in heaven” a lot recently. Which, might be a thing… but what I think happened with Megan and Michael is a match made for heaven. We believe in our faith that every vocation helps you to grow and prepare for heaven. This is the vow that Megan and Michael make tonight, to aide each other faithfully in pursuit of heaven. It is so beautiful to stand here and witness that kind of holiness in action. And so, Megan and Michael… many blessings to you. May love, joy, and peace fill your many years to come. May you continue to live the faith so courageously. May your years be always blessed. And thank you. Thank you for your powerful witness to the faith, thank you for your joy that you bring to the world, thank you for your pursuit of sanctity in your vocation.
As you might imagine, there is so much I could say about my big sister. You get to know someone very well after living with them for almost nineteen years… but because time is short and I’m not a public speaker, I’d like to share with you three lessons that I have learned from Megan over the years.
First, if you really know Megan, you know a woman filled with a love for life and a love for fun. Bubbly, extroverted, and joyful … these are just a few words to describe her. I know you probably have many words of your own along the same lines. Mom and Dad will still talk about the day that Megan was born, eyes wide open, very eager to make friends with the world. She succeeded at a young age in befriending nearly every kiddie at the community park which she would go to with mom. Her knack with and love for people persists to this very day. Megan is someone who can bring a smile and laugh into a room within minutes. And so, the first thing I learned growing up with Megan was a love for people.
This past March, Megan attended her first silent retreat. On her way up to the retreat, I remember, she called to me in New Hampshire and informed me that she was listening to the Beauty and the Beast Soundtrack as well as Hamilton: the musical, (which is nearly 100 percent rap) to immerse herself in all the “normal stuff” that she could before she was “holy” for a whole three days. I found this very humorous, of course, but I was so amazed when she called me again three days later. Despite her preconceived concerns about the silence and “holiness” Megan loved the retreat. And this is the second lesson I have learned from Megan: her love for the Lord and passion for the Catholic Faith, even when it means stepping outside of your comfort zone and making sacrifices… Megan has been such a witness of faith and zeal.
Over these years I have learned so much just watching my big sister grow. I learned to passionately hate math. I learned to get to the biggest cookie on the plate first. I also learned to sing in the shower. (Though I could never really pull that feat off quite as well as she did…) I watched Megan be bubbly, confident, cheerful, unafraid. She pursued her passions of music, education, and coffee doggedly and fearlessly. She succeeded and always tried again when she did not. And so the third and perhaps most crucial lesson that Megan has taught me is the importance of living virtuously and confidently in one’s own skin. Thank you, Megan.
These three lessons, love people, love God, and love yourself, have always been very easy to learn from Megan, because she lives them day in and day out. They come naturally to her, are her fiber, and make up who she is.
When Megan’s dreams of marriage started to become reality, I was hesitant that she would be able to find the perfect ‘someone’ who could support her in her faith, her energy, and her gifts. And then Michael entered the scene… I was thinking about this the other night, and I realized, there is no more progression in my mind for Megan and Michael more natural than marriage. And there is no name to match the sentiment in my heart for Michael other than “brother.” To say the least, he’s perfect.
I’ve heard the term “matches made in heaven” a lot recently. Which, might be a thing… but what I think happened with Megan and Michael is a match made for heaven. We believe in our faith that every vocation helps you to grow and prepare for heaven. This is the vow that Megan and Michael make tonight, to aide each other faithfully in pursuit of heaven. It is so beautiful to stand here and witness that kind of holiness in action. And so, Megan and Michael… many blessings to you. May love, joy, and peace fill your many years to come. May you continue to live the faith so courageously. May your years be always blessed. And thank you. Thank you for your powerful witness to the faith, thank you for your joy that you bring to the world, thank you for your pursuit of sanctity in your vocation.
This is absolutely beautiful Graci! Thank you so much for sharing with all of us! Congratulations to all your family!
ReplyDelete-Jessica (and family :D)