Ponderings: Sweet Peas, Pearls, A Wedding

Pondering is a needful process and always has been for me. Particularly where major events are concerned. I know no other way to put snippets in order for making sense. It always takes time. Perhaps its a bit like a gold miner, filling the pan, swirling, adding water, swirling again until the nuggets of gold are clearly discerned.
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So it is with heart-related things like weddings.

Now weddings are not a new thing in our family, not even weddings of grand daughters. One thing already learned is that weddings take on the personality of the featured couple.

Too, a wedding's style is influenced by that of the bride and groom, and shaped by the circumstances that formed them and their love.

So we come to our most recent celebration.

The Bride and Groom are quite young by today's standards. Yet, the circumstances that have shaped their love have also matured them beyond their years.

So young, yet Old Souls enabled to savor The Moment, evidencing a gratitude of spirit, awareness of the blessedness of the day and of those whose gift of effort brought it about. They, who in their maturity demonstrated such gentle calm, such purity of love for each other and the God that brought them together and guided each step of their way. Theirs was an assured ease and confidence by which they set the tone for the day. All who witnessed were carried along in like manner.

And concerning witnesses, not only were the couple surrounded by a physical crowd, well-wishers all. There was another, the presence of the Dear One, that in a perfect world, would have been there too. He was not 'present' as a spectre but rather I think, one front and center in that "great cloud of witnesses" providing a lifting transcendence to the ceremony while also offering his blessing. This also sweetened the spirit of the day.

How intrinsically woven are the dark threads in our little tapestries. Light and dark, gain and loss, life and death. It seems to me like that of an Amish quilt. It is the black that gives clarity to the colored patches and makes them sing.

The Bride chose black for the dresses of her attendants. The quintessentially classic 'little black dress', its smart sophistication softened and purified, gentled, if you will, by necklaces and bracelets of simple pearl strands. The shoes too were pearl in color. And each carried a simple bouquet of sweet peas, the Bride's favorite flower. The contrast was both startling and poetic!

Among the 5 attendants were the Bride's two sisters, both equally 'great with child'. Yet, theirs was not a pregnant appearance, as much as that of approving Madonnas, in their glowing adoration of their little sister as well as their own sweetness of character.

There was another of the attendants that carried her own private grief, yet with all grace and beauty rose above it with joy in loving support of the Bride, her friend.

The serene beauty and grace of the Mother of The Bride, her lack of fluster, her spirit of thanksgiving and loving wonder - all these added the spirit of the day , bringing out the best in all present. This spirit carried on through the reception and throughout the long day. It was felt. It was noted by many. It was uncommon. It was most beautiful.

Many small individual moments added up to a glorious whole. And the Bride and Groom? Their appearance was perfection itself. The groom, so tall and handsome in his Naval uniform, the Bride a breath-taking image in her retro gown, models for wedding cake toppers in complete form to be sure, yet completely real and vibrant.

Many sweet snippets for memory to record and protect. These lay close to the heart. These will be taken out, savored and cherished in days and years to come. These are mine alone. Others too have their casket of treasured jewels and gold nuggets.

Why? you might ask, is this such a serious piece on a most joyful, truly glorious day? The truth is, Dear Reader, in our clan, the wedding is The Party. The marriage that follows is The Gift, something we do take seriously indeed. For this new Union, we have the utmost confidence for a Life-lasting love, for years of gifted service, for all that is praise worthy. All this because their love is deeply rooted in their trustworthy God of Everlasting Love.

It was a joyful, glorious day for our family. It was a day of grace and beauty both seen and felt. We can only close with our family anthem: (join in - in harmony, please:)

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above Ye Heavenly hosts,
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Amen.

Selah - pause and calmly think of that!