Over the past year or so, I am thankful the Lord has really used weddings to teach me - not about the perfect song, or how the unity candle should be done, or the latest way to wear my hair. No. God has taught me much about planning a marriage, while attending the wedding. I realize there is only so much one can put into planning a marriage. Yet God has taken those quiet moments of sitting in the pew or at a reception table to reveal more of Himself and the importance of marriage, the commitment of a marriage, its covenant, and the seriousness of it all. I more than anyone want to plan that perfect day - funfetti cake, a 1920's inspired gown with a birdcage veil, and "Great is Thy Faithfulness" somewhere in the mix. I've planned a little. Just a little. But more importantly than those tiny details are the bigger details- the woman, the man.. and the marriage.. and the joining of families that will reflect the glory of God... and will draw others to Christ as a representation of Christ and the church. It's so easy to get caught up in the those tiny details; but when I'm watching a couple take their vows, I am easily reminded of this commitment. From that moment on, they will be a reflection of God and His love for His people. They will show the world who He is by how they love each other. What an incredible and lofty task that is not to be entered into lightly!
Beyond the importance and purpose of the marriage, there is the commitment. I'm not usually one to stray from commitment, but I am one to seriously think through things before making said commitment. It takes me about 20 minutes to commit to a new fingernail polish color from the Target. Commitment issues? Nope. Just weighing the options. However, marriage is a whole other ball game than a small bottle of purple-ish Sally Hansen. Marriage is FOREVER. FOREVER. Cue the Sandlot boy. Saying "I do" is more than just saying those two little words. But it is a commitment beyond that. This is the person you are going to wake up to for the rest of your life. Am I going to want to wake up to this person forever? I sure hope the Lord blesses me with someone that I just can't stand to be apart from for another day. And then the answer to that question would be a resounding "YES, Hallelujah Praise Jesus!" But I haven't met that person yet; I hope to someday though. This is the person who might be sick in the bed all weekend long not sure of what to do next because the doctors can't figure that out. This might be the person who has had open heart surgery and is relying on you for everything, I mean everything, during that road to recovery. I watched my mama and mema both this past weekend care for my daddy and papa, respectively. It might be the person who surprises you with a weekend getaway or cooks dinner when not asked. These things excite me because I know that God's desire for a marriage that is commited to forever will include one or all of these circumstances. Forever reminds me to not take marriage lightly. It reminds me to not focus on the wedding and party. It reminds me to focus on becoming the woman God would have me to be. It reminds me to pray for the man God would have me to marry. It reminds me to pray for our marriage. It reminds me that He is a part of it all.
While I'm sipping on my sweet tea or dancing out on the dance floor or picking out my favorite cupcake, God reminds me that more than the wedding .. a marriage is coming. He refreshes me and reminds me that He is keeping me and doing so in preparation for something that will bring Him the ultimate glory -- and that, my friends, makes the tea sweeter and the cupcake amazing and the dance last a little longer.
My dad, who is a pastor, has often said that he would do every funeral in the county if it meant that he never had to do another wedding. That doesn't fit the sentiment of this post very well. But it's funny.
ReplyDeleteGood word. I consider attending a wedding a commitment on my part to pray for the marriage. Let's be real: I don't often pray for my own future marriage. However, I have become more and more interested in what God says about relationships and pray that I will become more patient or more generous or more forgiving, etc., which will make me a better follower and future wife if that happens.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kathryn. I do the same thing too. We get so caught up in the excitement of the day (which is fun) but then more importantly .. its forever that we need to pray for!
Delete