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When Love Meets Lost Causes: A Marriage Built on Grace

When Love Meets Lost Causes: A Marriage Built on Grace

Last updated on: October 18, 2025 at 5:00 am by Michele Gunn

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When Love Meets Lost Causes: A Marriage Built on Grace 2025-10-17T07:48:12-05:00 Michele Gunn

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When Love Meets Lost Causes: A Marriage Built on Grace/created in Canva (Michele and Gary Gunn)

The Day Everything Went “Wrong” and Exactly Right

When my husband and I were planning our wedding, we originally chose Sweetest Day for our special date. It seemed perfect. It would be a day dedicated to love and thoughtfulness. But as with many of life’s best-laid plans, things took a turn. The church we wanted was already booked, so we moved the date to the following Saturday, October 28, 1989. We didn’t think much of it at the time. Many years later, we discovered it was the Feast of St. Simon and St. Jude, the patron saints of lost causes. We laughed about it then, and honestly, we still do.

Looking back, it feels fitting because our wedding day was a comedy of “lost causes” from start to finish. The church forgot to write us down, so our names never appeared in the bulletin with the other wedding announcements three weeks before our wedding date. We called the church and they had booked someone else in our place. That meant a sudden relocation to a different church. That meant our wedding invitations had the wrong church printed on them so we had to notify everyone.

Our bridesmaid dresses didn’t arrive on time, so we had to buy replacements off the rack. I couldn’t have the purple I planned. My bridesmaids wore pink, completely different colors than we’d planned. The priest didn’t show up for the rehearsal, it rained all day and even during the reception, a dear guest had to be taken to the emergency room. Let’s not forget that our DJ got drunk and wouldn’t honor our (bride and groom) music requests.

It was chaotic, exhausting and somehow just as it needed to be. Because despite everything that went wrong, one thing went beautifully right: we got married. Grace was with us.

The Patron Saints of Lost Causes and Found Grace

Being married on the feast day of the patron saints of lost causes has become a lighthearted joke between us over the years. But it’s also a reminder of something deeper: God’s grace often shines brightest in the mess of life.

As Catholics, we don’t look to saints for superstition or luck; we look to them for inspiration and intercession. St. Jude, especially, reminds us that God works miracles in what seems hopeless. He does not fix every detail, but He transforms hearts through faith and endurance.

Marriage, in that way, is the ultimate “lost cause turned found.” It takes two imperfect people, joins them in a sacred covenant with a perfect God, and asks them to walk together. Sometimes we walk through storms, sometimes through sunshine, but we always choose love again.

The True Meaning of a Catholic Wedding

Our wedding day taught us something profound: the celebration of marriage is fleeting, but the sacrament of marriage lasts a lifetime. A Catholic wedding is not about the dress, the flowers or the photographs. It’s about standing before God and promising to love one another “for better or for worse, in sickness and in health.” On our wedding day, we were tested in all of that before we even said “I do.”

Society may place the emphasis on the wedding day and how it is perceived, but that is one day in a lifetime of commitment. As Scripture reminds us, “Where one alone may be overcome, two together can resist. A three-ply cord is not easily broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12, usccb.org). That cord consisting of husband, wife, and God, has kept us together through every trial since. Because no matter what storms come, when Christ is at the center, the foundation holds.

When the Vows Become Real

Those wedding vows have taken on new meaning over time. Love isn’t just a feeling on your wedding day, it’s a daily decision. It’s laughing when the plans fall apart, forgiving quickly and learning to dance in the rain, both literally and figuratively. Marriage has a way of shaping us, humbling us and awakening us to God’s grace. It’s a journey of two people learning to grow, serve and surrender together. It does take time to grow together, to find how you fit well. That’s where the beauty lies, not in the perfection of the moment, but in the perseverance of the mission. It lies in building a life together.

As 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 reminds us: “Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated,it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (usccb.org)

Lost Causes and Found Grace

If you’ve been married for any length of time, you know there are moments that feel like “lost causes.” Misunderstandings, disappointments or seasons where you feel distant from each other or from God. But that’s exactly where grace meets us. We just need to be open to it.

Faith reminds us that love is not sustained by feelings but by faithfulness. Through prayer, forgiveness and a shared commitment to God, what feels lost can be found again. That’s the heart of every enduring marriage; not perfection, but perseverance through grace.

In my Graceful Awakening journey, I’ve learned that grace often begins where control ends. We think we’re holding everything together, but it’s God who sustains us. Every “lost cause” becomes a story of found strength when surrendered to Him.

The Sweetness of Enduring Love

Sweetest Day celebrates thoughtfulness, affection, and appreciation. These qualities can deepen over time when rooted in faith. The true sweetness of love isn’t found in romantic gestures or perfect days, but in the quiet moments of steadfast care, forgiveness and companionship.

After all these years, I can honestly say: the rain, the mix-ups and the chaos has not mattered. What mattered was that we stood before God, promised each other forever and kept that promise.Romans 8:28 says, “We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (usccb.org) Even when plans fall apart, God’s plan remains perfect; to draw us closer to Him and to one another.

Marriage is the Love Story

If you’re married, engaged or praying for a future spouse, take heart in this truth: the wedding day is just one day. The marriage, with all its laughter, tears and growth, is a real love story.

Let every imperfection remind you that God’s grace is the glue that holds love together. Because in His hands, even a “lost cause” can become a lifelong testimony of faith, humor and hope.

Let’s Pray:

Lord, bless all marriages — those beginning, those enduring, and those struggling. Teach us to find joy in imperfection, grace in difficulty, and strength in You. May our love reflect Yours — patient, forgiving, and everlasting. Amen.

Coming soon: From Grace to Growth

I explore more about finding beauty in imperfection and purpose in perseverance in my upcoming book, Rise. Align. Shine. Living Boldly in Faith, Purpose, and Joy, releasing February 2026. It’s a journey of faith, resilience and learning to shine through every season of life.

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