Once upon a time, there was a bride who was loved by many. She knew her fiancé, who was away for a long time, would be returning soon. She was determined to be ready for his return, no matter what. She had her life in order; her eyes were always scanning the horizon for a first sight of him. Her friends, tried to do the same, to be ready for the big wedding. But the wait was long, and they found themselves drawn away to other things that needed their attention.
The bride scoffed as one-by-one, they departed to raise their children, tend to their work, and help others in their community. "Let the others tend to the matters in this world," she said bitterly to herself, "I know who I am and where my place is. I will sit and wait."
Set in her determination, the bride never strayed from her chosen path; she kept herself ready and would not move an inch as she waited. This was her sole purpose: to wait for his return.
When the day came, the bride was overjoyed. She gathered her things, ready to be swept up into his arms and taken away from this wretched world. This was what she was waiting for all this time.
When her friends heard that the bride's fiancé returned, they tried to gather to her side, but she turned them away - each and every one. "You did not wait with me in my vigilance. You strayed from my side while I waited alone." She turned her back on them, "I will have nothing to do with you now."
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Once upon a time, there was a bride who was loved by many. She knew her fiancé, who was away for a long time, would be returning soon. She was determined to be ready for his return, no matter what. She had her life in order; her eyes were always scanning the horizon for a first sight of him.
Her friends, tried to do the same, to be ready for the big wedding. But the wait was long, and they found themselves drawn away to other things that needed their attention.
In her heart, the bride knew that things still needed to be done in this world while they waited. She wanted them at her side, ready for her fiancé's return. So she inquired of her friends what was drawing them away.
Those who would depart to raise their children, she replied, "Are they not part of my family too, as I love you like sisters and brothers? I will help with your families; this way we can take turns watching the horizon and all of us will be ready his return together."
To those who needed to tend to their work, she proposed, "Let us all work together. Is it not true that when we work together as one, we accomplish far more than the sum of our individual efforts? When we are separate, we are alone; this is not what we are called to be. While we work side-by-side, we can take turns watching the horizon. When my fiancé arrives, the work will be done and we will all be ready."
To those who wanted to help others in the community, she said, "Let us go out together to those in need. Is it right that some should share in joy while others suffer while we can yet do something about it? If we do this together, there will be more to share in the feast when my fiancé returns. What joy will be his when he sees all the people ready to celebrate. I will leave a note for my fiancé; he will know just where to find me."
While the young bride did her best to make sure all were ready and within calling distance when her fiancé returned, she saw that some still had wandered away, alone or in small groups, and were not ready on the day of her fiancé's return. When her fiancé arrived, he found her working among the people, helping them every way she could, her heart loving them as brothers and sisters. His joy was hers when he saw the vast numbers of people who were ready to celebrate the wedding feast.
But then he caught sight of those in the far distance and he asked his bride, "What shall we do with those who did not wait for this day?" Tears welled in her eyes and she pleaded, "I know they did not stay within calling distance, but they are still loved as sisters and brothers. I know we cannot wait, but should they see us depart and follow, please do not bar their way."
When the happy couple departed, they were followed by a joyous celebration of many who sang the song of Love United after a long period apart. Hearing the song rising on the wind, those in the distance looked up and saw them depart. They immediately regretted what they had done and followed them, calling... pleading... The bride heard their desperate calls and turned around to face them. With a smile and loving forgiveness welling in her heart, she held out her hands to welcome them.
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Which is the bride that holds Love in her heart?
Which is the bride whom the bridegroom calls from the start?
Which bride will you be when this world falls apart?
- ESA
Set in her determination, the bride never strayed from her chosen path; she kept herself ready and would not move an inch as she waited. This was her sole purpose: to wait for his return.
When the day came, the bride was overjoyed. She gathered her things, ready to be swept up into his arms and taken away from this wretched world. This was what she was waiting for all this time.
When her friends heard that the bride's fiancé returned, they tried to gather to her side, but she turned them away - each and every one. "You did not wait with me in my vigilance. You strayed from my side while I waited alone." She turned her back on them, "I will have nothing to do with you now."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once upon a time, there was a bride who was loved by many. She knew her fiancé, who was away for a long time, would be returning soon. She was determined to be ready for his return, no matter what. She had her life in order; her eyes were always scanning the horizon for a first sight of him.
Her friends, tried to do the same, to be ready for the big wedding. But the wait was long, and they found themselves drawn away to other things that needed their attention.
In her heart, the bride knew that things still needed to be done in this world while they waited. She wanted them at her side, ready for her fiancé's return. So she inquired of her friends what was drawing them away.
Those who would depart to raise their children, she replied, "Are they not part of my family too, as I love you like sisters and brothers? I will help with your families; this way we can take turns watching the horizon and all of us will be ready his return together."
To those who needed to tend to their work, she proposed, "Let us all work together. Is it not true that when we work together as one, we accomplish far more than the sum of our individual efforts? When we are separate, we are alone; this is not what we are called to be. While we work side-by-side, we can take turns watching the horizon. When my fiancé arrives, the work will be done and we will all be ready."
To those who wanted to help others in the community, she said, "Let us go out together to those in need. Is it right that some should share in joy while others suffer while we can yet do something about it? If we do this together, there will be more to share in the feast when my fiancé returns. What joy will be his when he sees all the people ready to celebrate. I will leave a note for my fiancé; he will know just where to find me."
While the young bride did her best to make sure all were ready and within calling distance when her fiancé returned, she saw that some still had wandered away, alone or in small groups, and were not ready on the day of her fiancé's return. When her fiancé arrived, he found her working among the people, helping them every way she could, her heart loving them as brothers and sisters. His joy was hers when he saw the vast numbers of people who were ready to celebrate the wedding feast. But then he caught sight of those in the far distance and he asked his bride, "What shall we do with those who did not wait for this day?" Tears welled in her eyes and she pleaded, "I know they did not stay within calling distance, but they are still loved as sisters and brothers. I know we cannot wait, but should they see us depart and follow, please do not bar their way."
When the happy couple departed, they were followed by a joyous celebration of many who sang the song of Love United after a long period apart. Hearing the song rising on the wind, those in the distance looked up and saw them depart. They immediately regretted what they had done and followed them, calling... pleading... The bride heard their desperate calls and turned around to face them. With a smile and loving forgiveness welling in her heart, she held out her hands to welcome them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Which is the bride that holds Love in her heart?
Which is the bride whom the bridegroom calls from the start?
Which bride will you be when this world falls apart?
- ESA
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The second bride is the bride of choice. Her decision to love all, made my Heart Rejoice. :)
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