Perfect Love in an Imperfect World

Yesterday was great-niece-Hester’s wedding, celebrating Hester and Chris’ love for each other… We heard about great-niece-Lucy and Pete’s wedding plans… It was good to chat to other young people in love or hoping for love… Meeting up with many relations we appreciated family love…

Joanna Jepson writes powerfully and lovingly about her brother’s Down Syndrome: ‘I looked at Alastair, noticing his facial creases and slants that were supposedly symptoms of his disability, but seemed only to form irrepressible expressions of mischief and frustration, joy and love.’

My brother Bryan, Hester’s Grandpa, led the church service. He spoke simply yet clearly about the Source of Love – our Father-God, the Standards of Love – using well-known words from 1 Corinthians 13, the Stresses of Love – differences that could cause friction can be a source of strength…

‘I wished we who loved Ali could have been the only voices that really mattered. To have had the power to swat and bat away all accusations of abnormality from his consciousness, to have been able to instil in him the knowledge of the complete adoration and love that he inspired in us…’

There were speeches… Dad-Andrew, spoke humorously… ‘I’ve not lost a daughter; I’ve gained a bathroom’; he choked up when describing his love for daughter-Hester… Bridegroom-Chris told of their meeting and falling in love with sincerity and emotion… Best-man-Reece spoke of Chris’ escapades in his pre-Hester days; he too spoke emotionally about his love and respect for his best mate…

‘Down’s syndrome was a word used by doctors and social workers, or by people who felt the need to make him feel that that was all he was. But Down’s syndrome wasn’t a definition Alastair needed; he was too busy living out the meaning of words like courage, determination, strength, enthusiasm and encouragement to be undermined by negative expectations.’

Musing… Hester – the ideals of young love are inspiring and easily forgotten by the old and cynical… Joanna – real, deep love thrives in an imperfect world… God – is love.