Heave to, lighter ahoy!

YARR, HEAVE THE MARMOSET TO, LIGHTER AHOY - WHO BE YE?  RICHMOND?  WELCOME ABOARD!

The big wedding day is fast approaching - August 8, to be precise.  Maybe I'll figure out how to post some pictures sometime when it is all over.

We had our last meal together as just the four in our family on Friday evening.  Justin arrived yesterday, so our family is doing that amazing growing/shrinking thing that happens when there's a wedding.  I was up early this morning so I thought I'd put in a few thoughts that have been running around the deck of the Marmoset.  Here comes the interview.

Are you sad to see your daughter leave?  A lot of people have asked me that question.  It's a delicate question.  In fact, I'm glad to see Lizzie leaving.  I think that's a correct and biblical view.  The children leave their parents.  That's been on the radar screen forever.  It's been visible on the horizon for several years as we've seen Lizzie growing in grace, learning how to conduct herself, practicing how to manage responsibilities, care for others, and live a life of service.  We used to joke about having children so as to get chores done.  It isn't altogether a joke, and we still have one child at home to do chores.  But they aren't doing chores for our convenience.  They are learning how to care for things on their own, a skill they will be able to use to bless others throughout their lives.

What do you think of your future son in law?  Well, I'm not marrying him.  That's a good thing on many levels.  What do I think of the  person I was when my wife married me?  That may be a better question to ask.  I think more highly of Justin than I would think of someone like I was at his age.  He's got some qualities that I think will develop really nicely.  I can see him tenderly caring for and protecting my daughter.  That's a really good thing.

But the girl, what does she think?  I wonder if all brides are this way.  I have played music at a lot of weddings in my life.  Most of the time the bride is the one person you don't want to cross.  She tends to be a bundle of nerves and will pop her cork without a moment's notice.  But she rarely does it around her groom, and very rarely does it to her groom.  I see that in Lizzie.  Though she is normally quite the stable and easy-going person, she's got a bit of a tense edge much of the time.  There are a lot of changes going on in her life right now.  And she's preparing for a wedding ceremony along with all the responsibilities of a party for about 150 people.  It's kind of hectic.  That tense edge seems to disappear when Justin is around.   That's a good sign.  It means that his presence helps her maintain equilibrium.  She smiles more, laughs more, and generally appears more happy-go-lucky when her man is with her.  It seems like she's heartily in favor.

What will life be like without Lizzie in the house?  We've had some practice of this since she visited in Tennessee for several weeks and since she's basically shut herself into her room for hours on end recently figuring out how flowers will work, how much weight needs to be in the bottom of a vase, what the candles will do, what size and how many whatevers she needs, and who needs to be where when and with what items.   We moved almost all of Lizzie's things to the new apartment in Alabama last weekend, so there's a lot more room in our house than there used to be.  I think we can adjust to having one fewer person in the waiting line for the bathroom, one less plate to set out on the table, and all that.  

So is Saturday the bride's day?  No.  Decidedly not.  The wedding day is not the bride's day.  It is the day the Lord has made.  It is a day for rejoicing and serving our neighbors as Christ's hands.  It is the day Lizzie gets to go where people tell her to go, stand where they tell her to stand, say what they tell her to say, smile when they say to smile, and generally try to entertain the many, many guests the Lord has provided for us.  It is not the day to celebrate the bride.  It is the day to celebrate that the Lord has brought people into relationships, first with himself, then with one another. It is the day to provide kind hospitality to others which mirrors the hospitality the Lord gives us.  I hope the bride and groom have a great day.  But it isn't their day.  It's a day, much like any other, but very full of activities to be used wisely.

What would you pray for the young couple?  Lord, giver of life, who has called us into fellowship with you through your living and present Word, you have also called us into fellowship with one another.  Thank you for calling Justin and Lizzie into fellowship as husband and wife.  May they always see your love working in and through each other.  May they walk in your grace.  May they rejoice together, weep together, grow together, as long as they both live, knowing that you also live with them, as you ever live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God forever.  Amen.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com and http://alex-kirk.blogspot.com