How do we sustain relationship?
	Today we believe in love.
		The Two are in love.
		We wish them love forever.
	It is a time to consider love
		when love is warm
		and life is easy.
	This is also a time to reflect on love
		when love is difficult
		and we become forgetful of commitment.
	Sometimes love is not enough.
	Today we believe in joy.
		The Two bring us joy today.
		We wish them joy forever.
	It is a time to consider joy
		when our hearts are full to bursting
		and being together is our most happy choice.
	This is also a time to reflect on joy
		when joy is lost
		and we become forgetful of commitment.
	Sometimes joy is not enough.
	Today we believe in experience.
		The Two have years together.
		We wish them forever.
	It is a time to consider experience
		as memories gather
		and being together is the best thing to be.
	This is also a time to reflect on experience
		when times are difficult
		and we become forgetful of commitment.
	Sometimes experience is not enough.
	Today we believe in good times.
		The Two need good times.
		We wish them their full measure.
	It is a time to consider good times
		when our cups are full
		and being together is a most wonderful pleasure.
	This is also a time to reflect on good times
		when they have gone away
		and we become forgetful of commitment.
	Sometimes good times are not enough.
	Today we believe in hope.
		The Two have many hopes.
		We wish them to hold hope in their hearts forever.
	It is a time to consider hope
		when it is exultant
		and being together is reaching towards common goals.
	This is also a time to reflect on hope
		when it fades
		and we become forgetful of commitment.
	Sometimes hope is not enough.
	But
		if hope,
		good times,
		experience,
		joy, and
		love
	are not enough,
	whatever can sustain their relationship?
	Why
		each of these alone
		and all of them together.
	For relationship is not held
		by any single bond
		but by many.
	As days grow into years The Two
		will weave these bonds
		into a tapestry.
	Both must do this weaving
		for it is a passing of the shuttle
		and a changing of the threads
		and an agreement on the pattern
		and all the things that working together entail.
	There is such satisfaction in this
		that they will call it
		belonging together.
	All these things sustain us.
	All these things are enough.
	All these things are the threads of commitment.

	© jun2001 Elias elias1943@shaw.ca Calgary, Canada
	On the marriage of my daughter. The threads of life's commitments.