Messy Celebration

It was a family reunion and a wedding.  I watched with pride as my daughter took her place at the front of the church along with 4 nieces and a niece-in-law all with the same last name. Their cousin would be taking a new name, starting a new life. The theme was western. They wore frilly, poofy skirts that showed off their cowboy boots. Pastor Don, who had marrried the groom's father and mother some years earlier, gave the charge, 'Marriage is honorable.' The father of the bride, my brother and a local pastor stood up, choked up, and shared how he had been hit by lightning (and survived:) 22 years ago – a year before the bride was born. He was thankful to share the moment this day. God had been faithful. After the newlyweds left for their honeymoon it was clean up time. We took down the decorations, hauled out the hay bales from the hoedown, and swept up the mess. That's what family does. Did I mention it's hot this time of year in Louisiana? My fine attire was dirty and sweat drenched, but it felt good. Marriage had been honored. Another generation was taking up the challenge of life and faith and family. The bride's father had said, ‘We’re trusting God that they will grow up together’. And we are!