Steven got married last week! The wedding was lovely--so many dear friends and family showed an outpouring of love and support to Steven and Maddie. I admit they are both very loveable people and so I shouldn't be surprised. Either way I was humbled. We saw lovely people from all different eras of their lives--some of you who have loved and supported him since his diagnosis and before. The word that I kept thinking of was "full." Full heart, full of joy, full circle.
Mostly because Maddie is so perfect for him and he is so happy with her. Their future seems so bright and light and beautiful. But also their love story has sparked in me an appreciation for God's design. It is kind of simple but also so one-in-a-millionish that it makes me smile and wonder. They met at school and were even living in the same apartment complex. But she noticed him at a party and was interested. And then one day she saw him out playing frisbee and extra noticed him because she realized he was an amputee. She approached him and said something like, "Crazy question, but is that a rotationplasty?" And he was blown away that she knew. She knew it well because her brother also had osteosarcoma and a rotationplasty. In fact, Steven and I had met her parents and brother prior to Steven's mission. A few weeks after Maddie and Steven met, he needed a date and he thought of her. They had a great time and kept texting and dating and almost two years later now, the stars have aligned and they are married.
And while the leg thing is a small part of their relationship--to me it feels like a big part of Steven's overall story. I've wondered through the years what God had in store for this kid and why he needed to go through this stuff. And I've seen some incredible answers to that prayer--his skiing and his compassion and the support from his friends and his determination not to waste time. But then when he got engaged to Maddie, I wondered if one big reason could be so that he would find her. Because she makes him whole.
And as my heart was bursting full with love and joy and hope last Saturday, I also had the thought--if finding her was the only reason for his cancer, then it was worth it.
I don't know that we always get a peek into the reasons why we suffer in this life. I hope that maybe in the next life all of the reasons why we suffered will become clear. But last weekend I got a glimpse of eternity and I felt that God loves us. I hope that any of you that are suffering or wondering can know that too. We are not special in that way. It seems like the end of the story here, but I also know that it is just a beginning.
P.S. Sorry no pictures! This program is too old :(. I'll put some on Facebook. But trust me--it was beautiful!
