These are the hands.

This statement may seem obvious but as a wedding photographer you go to a lot of weddings. At these weddings I get to see a lot of different types of vows, some are very traditional and some are very unique. I've heard a lot of readings from the Bible,Dr. Seuss, and even a vegan cookbook recipe...yes a vegan cookbook recipe as a wedding reading. This past weekend at the wedding we were shooting the pastor had the couple hold each others hands face up so they could see the palms and read this poem. First he had the bride hold the grooms hands and said,

These are the hands, young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life.

These are the hands you will place with expectant joy against your stomach, until he too, feels his child stir within your womb.

These are the hands that look so large and clumsy, yet will be so gentle as he holds your baby for the first time.

These are the hands that will work long hours for you and your new family.

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes: tears of sorrow and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will comfort you in illness, and hold you when fear or grief rack your mind.

These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes: eyes that are filled completely with his overwhelming love and desire for you.

And then had the groom hold the hands of his bride and read this,

These are the hands that are smooth, young, and carefree, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life.

These are the hands that will hold each child in tender love, soothing them through illness and hurts, supporting and encouraging them along the way, and knowing when it's time to let go.

These are the hands that will massage tension from your neck and back in the evenings, after you've both had a long hard day.

These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.

They are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick or console you when you are grieving.

These are the hands that will passionately love you and chrish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.

These are the hands that will hold you in joy and excitement and hope, each time she tells you that you are to have another child; that together you have created a new life.

Perhaps these are the hands that will comfort you when you are told you cannot have a child, and will convince you that together you will create new life in other ways.

These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams. Together, as a team, everything you wish for can be realized.

Now you may have seen this at a wedding and I am not totally sure that this was the first wedding I've seen it at but for some reason it had quite the impact on me. As I stood there and shot photos while the pastor said these words I couldn't help but think of my wife's hands. I thought about how much they do for me out of love, how graceful they are, how talented they are and how they are totally hers yet she so freely uses them to help me. I've been married over two years now and every day I have some sort of realization that I am just scratching the surface of understanding what love is and that day as I heard those words and a few days later as I took these pictures I am overwhelmed by the power of love so simply displayed by my wife's hands.