The shotgun wedding ... one definition defines it as a wedding that is arranged to avoid embarrassment due to an unplanned pregnancy, rather than out of the desire of the participants. But, it may not always be what it appears to be ...and often it is much more.

There are only two ideal situations that I can recall reading about ...and they both reference paradise.

Yet, some of the best things in life are less than paradise ...and often very difficult.

Most of us would say that the greatest thing is love ...though not how we often represent it.

God is love.

And the greatest love that I've be shown is when God sent His Son, Jesus ...with full knowledge how His Son would be treated.  It is so good to look to the adorable baby in the manger ...with such humble beginnings, but for some it is difficult to grasp the crucifixion.

We all were created to have choice ...from the beginning.

But, choice was not really make available to us in a way that love can be defined ...until the crucifixion.

Without choice, there is no potential for love ...it cannot exist for us.

So, love is the greatest that can be for us ...and it exists to its greatest extent in many of our most difficult moments. Paradise does not really have its true meaning, unless we can appreciate it.

In the paradise of the Garden of Eden ...it was not truly recognized.  Yet, in the paradise of Heaven, it will be.