Sep
5
2018
Unequivocally
Posted in Marriage 2 Comments
My son graduated from law school four years ago.
After interviewing at many firms, he had decisions to make.
A firm in Washington, D.C. was his choice.
However, he made another decision before beginning to work there.
My son wanted to get federal court experience before working at the firm.
After much prayer, he deferred his position at the firm for one year.
He applied to many federal judges in different circuits across the country.
A judge in the sixth circuit chose him to be her clerk.
My son lived in Ohio for the year.
He drove over forty minutes to a wonderful church each Sunday.
He also drove that same distance to attend a young adult Bible study.
He wondered if he would continue the mid-week Bible study, since it was far to drive after work.
One night, as he was trying to decide whether he would still attend mid-week, she came in.
A tall, young woman with long, brown hair.
She caught his eye; he caught her eye.
He noticed a ring with a red stone on her left hand.
It was around the time of the Super Bowl and a party was planned to watch the game.
He did not want to ask her to go since he thought that she was dating someone.
The conversation turned to the game and he mentioned the Super Bowl party.
I think there may be couples there, he said and her answer surprised him.
Oh, I’m not a couple, she said.
What about that? He asked pointing to her ring.
Oh, this is a purity ring from my daddy, she said.
This beautiful young woman, with the long brown hair, was single just like him.
They attended the same church.
They sat together that following Sunday.
They went to lunch after the church service.
Four hours went by in a flash.
They sat so long, they were hungry again.
They went across the street and had dinner at another restaurant.
They talked all afternoon.
Soon, they began to date.
They got to know each other over the next three years.
He traveled to another state so he could ask her father for permission to marry her.
That permission was easily granted.
The day after Christmas, he asked the young woman with the long brown hair to marry him.
They decided to marry on the first day of September.
The date approached and then was upon us.
We all traveled to another state.
We were there to witness this sweet couple covenant before God.
All of us watched the weather on our phones.
The thunder storm icon appeared for each of the days we were there.
There was no rain.
The weather was clear.
On the day of the wedding, rain was in the forecast later in the day.
We arrived and the sun was shining.
Right before the ceremony, a large dark cloud was slowly moving across the sky.
The chairs had already been set up under the trees.
Guests were beginning to arrive.
They were seated in the white chairs under the trees.
Parents walked down the aisle which had rose petals scattered about.
My son and his groomsmen took their places.
The dark cloud was moving towards us as we sat under the trees.
The wind began to whip.
Leaves that were barely hanging on their branches, fell on the grass below.
The bridesmaids began to walk down the aisle to their places.
The guests kept looking up at the cloud that was to our left.
The lovely young woman with the long brown hair was on the arm of her daddy.
The same man who gave her the purity ring.
The same man who was now giving her to my son.
We all stood watching the two of them come down the aisle.
The wind and the leaves were all around us but she only had eyes for her husband.
My son knew the storm cloud was above us but at that moment, he only had eyes for his wife.
Her daddy brought her to the end of the aisle.
The young woman with the long brown hair gave her husband-to-be a big hug.
It was so sweet, so unscripted, and so natural.
She realized that she hugged her future husband before she hugged her daddy.
My son shook the hand of the man who was giving his daughter to him.
Both mothers were asked to read Scripture passages.
The wind and the leaves were all around us.
I prayed; how I prayed.
Many of us were praying.
Lord, You who can halt the waves and calm the storm, keep this storm away.
Do not allow anything to thwart Your plans.
This young couple have waited for this day.
Protect us, as we sit here under the trees, listening to distant thunder.
The cloud did not move.
The wind died down a bit.
The falling leaves only made the grass around their feet more lovely.
The raindrops never fell.
I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt.”
(Job 38:11)
The pastor spoke words filled with grace and truth.
The sweet couple said their vows to each other.
I heard a word that has stayed in my mind.
They both said it; in fact their vows began with this word.
I unequivocally take you…
Unequivocally.
In a way that leaves no doubt.
Unambiguous, unquestionable.
Clear and firm.
There under the trees, they covenanted before God and witnesses.
Unequivocally, I take you to be my wife.
Unequivocally, I take you to be my husband.
In a way that leaves no doubt, here before God, I promise.
The cloud did not move.
The rain did not fall.
The couple only saw each other as they made their vows.
Clear, firm, in a way that leaves no doubt; they became husband and wife there under the trees.
The union was wrapped in prayer.
The union was sealed with a kiss.
The pronouncement was made.
I present to you, for the first time, Mr and Mrs…
The couple walked hand in hand down the aisle.
The attendants followed.
The parents followed the attendants.
Through the trees there was light; the dark cloud was kept at bay by a gracious God.
As soon as we all reached the white gazebo, it began to rain.
All the guests were safely inside the Manor House.
We reached the porch with the large white columns in time.
God, in His tender mercy, halted an approaching storm.
Unequivocally, I take you, said my son to his new wife.
Unequivocally, I choose you, says God the Father.
In a way that leaves no doubt, unambiguous, unquestionable, clear and firm.
How wonderful it is to be chosen.
What a lovely promise that leaves no doubt, this is a Christ centered union. Praise the
Lord
Amen, Linda!
God is good!
Gina