Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate. (Matthew 19:6)
The tragic love story Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, is still one of the most-discussed plays in English literature. The story centers around two feuding families, the Capulets and the Montagues. Near the end of the story, Romeo Montague overhears Juliet Capulet vowing her love to him in spite of her family’s hatred of the Montagues. Both young people faced the dilemma of choosing loyalty to family or loyalty to love. Their story ends in tragedy, but many other such stories have happy endings.
Many years ago, Catherine’s father had tried to set her up with his friend’s son, who was financially well established. But Catherine had fallen in love with a boy she met at the beach. She believed that God had brought them together, and, despite her father’s demands, she married the boy. Times were tough at the beginning. Renting a flat and buying furniture on credit in their first year of marriage was humbling. Sometimes Catherine wondered if she should have listened to her father’s request and married his friend’s son, making her financially stable. But she quickly discarded that notion because she still believed that God had united her and her husband.
Forty-seven years, two daughters, and four grandchildren later, Catherine is still married to the boy she met on the beach.
Be faithful to your spouse in all circumstances.
Rosemary Hagedorn began writing devotions in her later years. She creates picture story books for her grandchildren and is presently working on a fantasy novel.
