Though we live in the midst of anxiety and hardship, a simple blessing from my mom, Susan O'Leary, on my wedding day reminds us that moving forward with confidence and defiant hope will free us from burdens.

I was a nervous 26-year-old, wearing an ill-fitting tuxedo, already feeling insecure with all the attention. Having never told most people anything about being burned, I certainly didn’t feel like this was the time or place to change that. Definitely not as I knelt next to Beth, waiting for our wedding ceremony to conclude, a chance to kiss my new bride, to walk down the aisle and begin our lives together.

But my mom had requested a chance to share a few words at our wedding, and Beth and I had agreed to her request. Let me explain.