I never used to cry.

05 May I never used to cry.

I never used to cry at weddings
until I got married.
Only then did I realize

how intensely you can love
how critically you can speak
how boldly you can share your soul
how deeply you can hurt
how passionately you can be received
how profoundly God will work through His tool of your spouse.

I never used to cry at new births
until I had babies.
Only then did I realize

how fiercely you can love
how harshly you can speak
how selflessly you can give
how selfishly you can desire me and mine
how emotionally you can hug “I-love-yous” and whisper “Goodnights” 
how profoundly God will work through His tools of your children.

But now I know these things.
About love and hurt and soul-sharing and lives changing
and giving and giving and giving and giving.

So now I cry
at new brides
and new mamas.