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A Fairytale Beginning
“And so we know and rely on the
love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in Him.”
- 1 John 4:16
After eleven
months of planning and countless hours of preparation, the biggest
day of our lives was less than 12 hours away. My entire family made
it in from various corners of North America to join in the
celebration of uniting one man to one woman for life. The last
minute planning was relaxed since so much effort had gone into the
wedding ahead of time.
Now all I had to
do was wait.
The rehearsal and
subsequent authentic Italian dinner saw the bridal party and close
friends in top form. Laughter and camaraderie filled the air as we
enjoyed our last dinner together before becoming ‘man and wife’.
Everything went so smoothly during practice, but what about during
the ceremony tomorrow? All I wanted to do was enjoy the day to
the fullest just like I had enjoyed the last few days.
As Amanda and I
said good-bye that night, we hugged. Slipping away from her embrace,
my hand held hers as long as possible as I gazed into her eyes. ‘She
will be my wife,’ I thought. We had kept ourselves pure to this
point, not even enjoying a single kiss. We wanted to be sure to do
it right, to do it God’s way. My passions and desires for Amanda
were almost overwhelming at times, but God gave us strength for
self-control.
She is worth
the wait.
Thanksgiving
dinner the day before had the majority of our immediate and extended
family from both sides sitting across the table from each other in a
quiet, sunlit bistro. Sun beamed through the windows, as if
commenting on the joy of the occasion. To see my whole family,
together, having a thanksgiving dinner for the first time was a
strange sight indeed. Strange, yet satisfying to see everyone close
in my life around one table at the same time enjoying a meal. My
thoughts skipped ahead to what it would be like in heaven enjoying
dinner with Christ as the bridegroom.
Arriving back at
the condo, I made the final preparations for the next day. I slipped
off to sleep that night with sound anticipation of what the
following day would entail.
*************************
On the way to the church, I picked up Josh, my best man, as we
leisurely cruised toward a date with destiny. I was slightly
nervous, but didn’t exhibit the usual cold feet of someone else in a
similar situation. Amanda and I had the reassurance that God was the
one that put us together. This day, He was the person that would
make us one. One in mind, spirit and body. My hope was in Christ and
nothing less than His fulfillment in our lives. November 26th,
2005 was the day of His plan, purpose and will combining together
into one.
The time passed
quickly as myself and the other groomsman and ushers prepared for
the ceremony. We offered up a heartfelt time of prayer to Jesus
Christ who was the whole reason we were there that day. With all of
the other similarities that Amanda and I have in common, it is our
intimate personal relationship with the Son of God that is the
foundation for who we are individually, and as a couple. We had a
passion for God to get the credit for the day and to bring a smile to
His face.
The groomsmen and
I took our places as the mothers lit the unity candle. God’s peace
swept over me like a gentle breeze.
My mind
was clear.
My heart was pure.
My soul was ready.
My spirit sang a
song of thankfulness to God as I stepped down the side aisle to pray
with our guests. I don’t remember exactly what I prayed, but I know
that God was there. He was there in power, in might, in joy, in
spirit and in purpose. All 375 guests that came to support us that
day experienced His mighty presence.
As I completed
the prayer inviting God to take His rightful place at the ceremony,
I stepped back. Watching and taking in the moment during the
ceremony introductory video, I was ready. The time was right. The
time was now.
The groomsmen and
I took our place at the front, watching the bridesmaids come
down the main aisle in step. Then it was time for the bride to take
her place.
Wow.
Amanda beamed
from head to toe and lit up the entire sanctuary with her glow.
“I love you,” I
mouthed as she was walking toward me, toward the man that God had
created just for her. She returned the affection as her earthly
father connected my hand to hers. The pastor began to share.
We gracefully
walked from the bottom to the top of the stage in the sanctuary.
Standing face to face, I could take in the woman that God had place
in my life. God formed Amanda just for me. She was the woman that I
could enjoy the rest of my life with, living the adventure of life
together as a team, as one.
Pastor Kenny
shared about love, faith, and commitment. He expressed how we were
making a covenant before God. Vows could be broken, but a covenant
commitment can never broken. We were to be one for life. As the
ceremony drew to a close, Pastor Kenny expressed how I had been
looking forward to the kiss for quite some time now. Just as I
thought the time had come to enjoy the fruits of our self-control
labor, Amanda surprised me.
‘This isn’t on
the schedule!’ My mind raced as I was directed over to the piano.
Amanda is a pianist who has a degree in music theory and
composition. Saying that her skills are incredible is an
understatement. She handed me a song with a bow on it.
This was her gift
for me.
This was a piece of herself, a piece of her heart.
This was her love song to me.
It was amazing. I
hardly had time to enjoy it and it was finished. I took Amanda by
the hand and led her back to center stage.
“This is the
moment that you’ve been waiting for,” Pastor Kenny announced. “I now
pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
As the music
serenaded my bride, with snow falling from the rafters, I gently
leaned over and kissed Amanda for the very first time.
*Clink*
Our teeth
collided. We’ll have to practice some more!
As we stood
lip-locked under the snow wafting down to the applause of onlookers,
we relished the moment. It was the start of a new chapter in our
lives. All we want in life is to follow Jesus and be in the center
of His will. Right then, we knew we couldn’t be any more at the
center than we were.
“I now present to
you Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Roberts!” exclaimed Pastor Kenny with joy.
Smiles abounding,
we passed by the family and friends who helped bring us to this
moment as we exited the sanctuary. The bridal party enjoyed picture
taking on the way to the Reception that day. The reception was
attended by select friends and family later in the evening. The
whole day went virtually flawless which is a direct result of God’s
hand orchestrating the details as they unfolded that day.
As we look back,
we enjoyed the entire day to its fullest. Both Amanda and I
lived in the moment, being infused with the power of the present.
Most importantly, we didn’t miss God’s calling our lives, first to
Him, and then to each other.
We hope and pray
that you enjoyed reliving this moment with us. Amanda and I know
that God will continue to direct us as we know and rely on the love
that He has for us. Live in the center of His will and you will
always walk in the light and His love.
“And so we know and rely on the
love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in Him.”
- 1 John 4:16 |
