“We believe that love is the will (the desire, choice/free will) to support (goodwill) with will (dedication, determination, willpower, strength of will). Support, or love, are shallow unless they are deep, warm, constant, and everlasting.”– Michael Tuteur
As we grow weary of the constant barrage of negative press about the races, the overloading of who hates who for things they can’t possibly control like the color of their skin, their ethnicity, their sex and on and on…. We choose to show you the other side of the coin. The world where people embrace their differences. The world that is inspired by love, curiosity about race, cultural differences and actually excited about everything that is opposite of their beloved.
As you will note I love the term beloved. It just has a nice ring to it. It evokes something endearing, soft, protective and enchanting to me. But when writing this article, I wanted to share with you why this word means so much to me by describing this next couple. I googled the term and this is how Google defines it- dearly loved.
Beloved: darling, dear, dearest, precious, adored, much loved, cherished, treasured, prized,highly regarded, admired, esteemed, worshiped, revered, venerated, idolized.
I felt it was the perfect term to describe how Michael Tuteur feels about his wife, Maryam.
In the Bible your associations can be used to define you and your character, for good and bad. It also warns you about the effects of your association. Well so far, for the sake of these series of articles, we will be sharing with you in these trying times in world affairs this statement holds true in a positive light because while last week we interviewed the love and marriage of Todd and Brandi and their love letter to their son; this week Michael Tuteur wrote the most touching definition of love, family and acceptance. It triggered me to reach out to him and explain his written statement, only to find that he had something very interesting to say. This young professional Jewish man had married a Muslim woman. What you say??? Preposterous.
Yeah yeah… contrary to public opinion Jews and Muslims fall in love, get married and have children too. This has been going on for years. Can you imagine? How could that be one may ask? One word, L.O.V.E. Maybe two R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Those two things combined can cause a spark and ignite something and actually change the world. Go figure.
While I try to make light of the situation, because I have to or I would go insane if I am forced to believe that we are that primitive in our thinking that we would want to continue in this destructive path of division. And dare do it in the name of a higher being- God. So I reached out to Michael and asked him a couple of questions to see where his head was and it was in the clouds and in love- and with conviction he shared his story of the basic thing the whole human race wants… Family and a sense of belonging. I got chocked up and wrote his story at 4 in the morning after reading so much pain in our news, social media that has caused me much anxiety.
Blog by: Myrdith Leon-McCormack
Photographer: Arvin Photography LLC
Dress Designer: Monique Lhuillier dress
Tuxedo and Mens Attire: Navy Blue J Crew Ludlow Shawl-collar Tuxedo with bowtie and cummerbund by Beau Ties LTD
Floral Designer: Ultimate Floral Design
Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Event Venue: The Willard InterContinental Hotel
