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The Bible says we love because God loves us first. 

My late mother sang to me when I was a child:

When two brothers hardened their hearts through quarrels

It is as if harder than steel;

When a couple unites their hearts through love

It is as if softer than silk. 

One day last year, a young man, with the future unknown ahead of him, made an act of faith and love, left his job, leaving his parents and friends behind and heading for Sydney;

To-day, the same young man, maybe still with the future unknown, makes again an act of faith and love, this time he is not alone. 

A very good afternoon every one! I am Doris, mother of that young man, that handsome young man, Dennis. On behalf of the Leung Family, I welcome you to be part of my son and Leonora’s wedding. 

I am honoured to have a chance to speak on this happy occasion…to reflect on the meaning of love and marriage.  After married for 33 years to Leo, who is standing there, I do not find the subject too difficult. 

It is not difficult to find the meaning of love and marriage when you speak from your heart and from what you have learnt. 

Here are the words of St Paul about love: 

Love is patience and kind

Love is not jealous or boastful

It is not arrogant or rude

Love does not insist on its own way

It is not irritable or resentful

It rejoices in the right, and does not rejoice at wrong.

I would like to add that love is when I heard Dennis said

Mum and Dad, I am leaving Melbourne to be with Leonora.

Love is even Cyclone Tracy which blew Darwin away

Could never blow Dennis and Leonora apart

Nor could the lions at Taronga Zoo tear them apart.

It was at this stage they experience the most beautiful human gift – love.  They realize they deeply love each other. 

The logical step to take next is to strengthen that love by marriage.

It was lunar New Year day.  The Leung Family celebrated the year of the Golden Pig with the Long Family.  Earlier Laurie kept asking Leonora are we hearing wedding bells this year.

Alex had an idea. He said if they are still not married by the end of the year, we should work out some sort of sanctions on them.  Yes, Sanctions!

One month later, Leo and I attended the first wedding in the Year of the Golden Pig. I took home after the wedding reception a piece of paper with the descriptions of the fortunes or feng shui of the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac.  The dinner tables at the reception were named after these animals.

One of them says:  “The Dragons, Dennis is a Dragon.  This is the year of much happiness and celebration for all Dragons. 

You will have many happy events around you, from celebrations within your family to those offered by friends. Listen to this!  You should strive to celebrate all positive tidings that come your way, from weddings to job promotions, everything should be celebrated.”

I must tell Dennis.  I do not know much about feng shui, but feng shui seems always work for me in a mysterious way.  When I want something I would tell my boss it is good feng shui.  My Manager always says, “I do not understand feng shui, but I believe you.”

So did my son.  I sent Dennis the scripts of the feng shui of Dragons in the Year of the Gold Pig, highlighted in red the word ‘wedding’.

Now the question is why married?  Is it because they bow to Alex’s possible sanction, or are they attracted to the feng shui predictions.  No! They marry for love.

Dennis asked Leonora to marry him because he has found the person he sincerely loves and cherish.  Dennis always said, “Mum, Leonora will make a good wife”.

He is so sure.

We marry because we want love to be a lasting thing. We wish to be in a permanent union in which we can share joys, sorrows, problems, hopes, responsibilities.  We marry because we hope to fulfil each other’s needs for love,   to share the joy of giving new life, to have family. 

My son, there is no need to feel the future is unknown. With God’s help we accept the challenge with love, faith and hope in each other and in Him.

I am the happiest and the luckiest person to-day.  I have always wanted a daughter, now I have Leonora and it is a bonus because I have an Australian daughter.  Thankyou Leonora and Dennis, may God bless you.

* The above is the speech by Doris Leung at the wedding ceremony of her son, Dennis Leung and Dr Leonora Long on 29-9-07.*