Recently, our neighbors’ daughter got married. As well as just living across the field from us, they are good friends, and we’ve known this family for a long time. Watching their kids grow up into fine young adults, we were honored to be invited to celebrate the milestone of their only daughter joining her heart to a nice young man.
I was so thankful when the day for the wedding dawned bright and clear after many cloudy or threatening-to-rain days — not a hint of rain was in sight. Even though the event would have gone on despite the weather, having a sunny day for a wedding is so encouraging. It was chilly, but the sun added a cheery note.
Seldom do I go to the wedding ceremony in church as it’s difficult to get ready, dressed and attend an afternoon wedding when chores loom. We need to get at our night chores early in order to get done in time for the dinner and dance. So usually I regretfully cannot attend the afternoon wedding.
This time, however, it was at our church just down the road, the wedding was early afternoon and a friend had asked if I’d like to go with her as she’d like to go but had no one to go with. Reflecting later, I was so glad I took the time to attend. It was beautiful. The bride was radiant, and I don’t think she stopped smiling once. She was even smiling through her tears as her dad escorted her down the aisle.
Before handing her over to her future husband, her father lifted her veil and kissed his daughter on the forehead, then hugging her, lifted her off her feet and squeezed her tight before gently setting her down. It moved me to tears! It was amazing.
The ceremony continued with beautiful music, readings from the Bible and a heartfelt message from the pastor, blessing the union with prayer and petitions to our Father. The church was filled to overflowing with friends and family, wishing the new couple well. After the service, two decorated, jet-black horses pulling a stunning white carriage lined in red velvet was waiting to whisk them away. It was breathtaking.
After we congratulated the new couple and their families, my friend took me right home and just in time as my husband was already starting night chores. Changing quickly, I joined him and we got the work done in record time. Running back into the house, I started getting ready all over again for the reception and dance!
Under a huge tent, the outdoor reception was put together so well, with many little homemade rustic touches to match the couple’s interests. The whole reception had an outdoorsy country-style flair, with burlap tablecloths and wood slabs holding huge sunflowers for each table centerpiece, and they even had a hollowed out tree stump for the card box! The bride and her attendants all wore cowboy boots and they had a live country band playing all night.
We talked and laughed, getting caught up with old friends. It was so nice to have our middle son there with us. The group of boys that had gone to elementary school and high school together, played sports together and then on to college, remained friends. A lot of them were there that night.
During the meal the bride’s father got up to say a few words. He joked that he had given his future son-in-law a hard time at first, slowly polishing his shotgun in front of him on numerous occasions, and even wrapping up a pair of crutches one Christmas, just in case his daughter’s boyfriend would need them.
As well, the bride’s dad encouraged the young couple to remember the word JOY and what it stands for. “J” is for Jesus, put Him first. “O” stands for others, always put others first, before “Y”, meaning yourself. It was such a loving speech, humbly giving words of spiritual wisdom for not only the new couple, but also for all of us.
The groom got up to say a few words and he became very emotional as he thanked his new family for warmly welcoming him into the fold, and especially he was grateful for his beautiful bride. All night long he had lovingly tended to her, extending a hand to help her up and down steps, tenderly holding her as they danced; it was heartwarming to witness such gentleness and respect. Also during his speech he mentioned he had (admittedly) nervously asked his girlfriend’s dad for his daughter’s hand in marriage. To me that spoke volumes about his respect for his future family and, especially, his future father-in-law.
During the dance, the band leader asked all the married couples to come out to the dance floor. One or two couples at a time were asked to leave, depending on how many years they were married. Those that had been married the longest would still be dancing at the end of the song. That’s been done before, but the astonishing thing to me was the four couples that remained were all granduncles and grandaunts and their spouses of the new bride. The family has numerous examples of faithful, committed, lifelong love between a husband and wife.
All-in-all it was a wonderful celebration of good food, music and laughter, a testimony of a Christian family following God’s direction for their lives.
Father God, please be with the new couple as they begin their married life. By using their family as an example of faithful love and commitment, may they remain together, supporting each other along life’s journey and always keep Your Son first. Thank You, Father! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
(“Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man and He brought her to the man. The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman for she was taken out of man.’ For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” Genesis 2:22-24)
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