The Wedding Box

 "Most people get married believing a myth that marriage is a beautiful box full of all the things they have longed for: companionship, intimacy, friendship, and more. The truth is at the start marriage is an empty box. You must put something in before you can take anything out.

There is no love in marriage. There is love in people, and people put love into a marriage.

There is no romance in marriage. You have to infuse it into your marriage.

A couple must learn the art and form the habit of giving, loving, serving, and praising. Thereby keeping the box full. If you take out more than you put in, the box will be empty."

-J. Allen Petersen

Carved box 24" wide, 18" deep and 9 1/2" tall. Built of red oak, white oak, and pine. Lined with hand made marbled paper and finished with Watco Black Walnut Danish Oil. Given as a wedding gift to my best friend's oldest daughter and her new husband. I also included the quote above printed on linen paper inside the chest. It is the best summation of the lessons I've learned in 18 years of marriage put into words better than I could craft.

I wish Donna Mae and Justin all the years of happiness, intimacy, and companionship possible.

Ratione et Passionis
Oldwolf