A Love Story in Photos, Part 11

Mrs. Beaver:

Aaron and Anna -- March 19, 2011

The last time I posted a photo of Aaron and Anna on their wedding day, I included some of my reasons for continuing to share these pictures months after they were married.

I have yet another couple of reasons.

First, we're aware that many of our blog's readers are young people. From the moment Aaron and Anna entered their courtship, they declared that they wanted the details published on this blog. They hoped their experience might encourage other young adults that there is another way to find a lifetime love versus the prevalent American practice of dating and breaking up, dating and breaking up, dating and break up, dating and...

Second, Aaron and Anna also hope in any small way they can to participate in redefining the word "love" in our culture. Everywhere we turn, from music to movies, love is portrayed as a feeling to be sought after in order to feel good. Aaron and Anna (as well as both sets of parents) are determined to define love as a self-sacrificing, self-denying, self-abandoning choice to do what is best for the other person, whether he or she is deserving or not. Love defined this way--the biblical way--endures.

Obviously, Aaron and Anna are only at the very beginning of what those of us who've been married for almost any length of time know will be a soul-stretching challenge. Still, I post these photos knowing that they're not trying to love in this anti-cultural way in their own strength. They were united on March 19 in power of Christ. In that reality lies our confident hope that Aaron and Anna will spend decades dieing to self, even when its hard, to the blessing and benefit of their spouse, strengthening--and beautifying--their marriage as they do.