As mother of the groom, I was asked to say a few words in honor of this grand occasion, on a lovely afternoon in May:

I started by wishing that the day would be the most beautiful day for them – with many more to follow. I extended the wish to everyone: may this be our opportunity to cherish the same sacred memory –and to remember –despite any differences, love is what we share.

To me, my son has always been a reminder of everything there is in this world to love, which I will carry with me to the end of my days, remembering all the moments he taught me to trust my heart, to believe in my goodness, to remember joy, and to love and cherish this one beautiful life. All I can do is say “thank you” to a universe that has my beloved son in it.

Did I have any advice to offer them? Of course not! Advice is for people who think they know something, and as a student of this world, all I can do is share my wish for them:

May you walk a path with heart
May peace be your every step
May your words be soft and caring…tender
May you be the keeper of each other’s goodness
May your life be laced with fine wine, with laughter,
And with the sweetness of others
May you call each other by the name: “Beloved”
May you be in love with your life every minute of it
May you let kindness say: “it is you I have been looking for” and then let it follow you everywhere
And may you never forget:
The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.

My wish may be for living a life of kindness, love, and compassion, yet I know I cannot, in myself, carry out such a vision on a global scale. What I can do, though, is share my wish for the world where I’m planted, where I live. Only when we find the spring of deep love in our own hearts, and embodying it in our own lives, can we truly affect change.

What might you do to be a catalyst of love and acceptance, within yourself and those whose paths you cross?