Yesterday was our last day in Florence. We have absolutely loved this city. Romantic and beautiful, it was the place we wanted to mark in a special way.

Remember when we found our daughter’s friend’s lock on one of the bridges in Paris? Well, we knew it was a tradition here, too, but it’s illegal in Florence, so it has to be done on the sly. Even though it flies in the face of all that I am (Rule-follower? Anyone?), somehow this fact made it even more special.

At first we couldn’t find the locks. We were anticipating an entire bridge expanse packed solid like it was in Paris, so we were puzzled when we didn’t see it right away. But as we walked across the famous and picturesque Ponte Vecchio bridge a second time, we noticed the railing around a statue in the middle of the bridge. It had locks in various places all around it, as well as in obscure, out of the way places on the old torch stands and other iron fixtures.

There were police nearby, as it’s a very busy bridge with shops on the bridge, itself, and we’d learned there was a pretty stiff fine if they caught you fixing the lock in place. We snuck to the back of the statue, and while keeping an eye out, we locked our love right there and then, turning to throw the key into the river and sealing it all with a kiss.

Realistically, after a time, when the locks become too many and too heavy, they will likely come and cut them off. Sad, but true. However, it’s really okay because we’ll have the memory of this special day, and a little street painting of the bridge as visual.

The fact of the matter is that our love was locked 30 years ago on an altar of a church, as our promises sealed the deal on earth and in heaven, every bit as effectively as a lock on a bridge and a key thrown into a river. No one will be cutting it off, though.

No, our love will still be hanging there in another 30 years…locked up tight.

“…For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” Ruth 1:17 ESV

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