The Bride

I got the privilege of going to the wedding of the oldest daughter of close family friends. You know the kind of friends I mean - they really are family in every sense of the word except biologically. The bride was beautiful in a long, pure white gown and veil. The groom smiled from ear to ear when he saw her walking toward him on the arm of her father. He looked quite handsome himself in his crisp black tux. They were flanked by 3 pretty girls in formal black dresses with perfectly done hair and fresh spring flowers as well as 3 groomsmen in matching black tuxes. Honestly though, after watching them walk to their place at the front of the church it was all about the bride and groom, especially the bride. The bride and groom stood facing each other throughout the whole ceremony, holding onto hands, looking into each other's eyes. They had obviously been waiting for this time and it appeared they didn't want to miss a moment.

As I observed all of this I remembered that this bride was a ballerina in years past. She elegantly swayed and spinned telling stories through her movements often dressed in white flowing costumes. But Saturday night she was the "real deal", the bride for all to see. She was the center of attention. No disrespect to the groom is intended here but then he couldn't keep his eyes off of her either.

There is just something about special about brides. I've always thought that was true but this time I got to see the bride through the eyes of her 4 new cousins from Ethiopia. They've only been with their new family here in the States for less than a month. Those children grinned from ear to ear and stared with eyes as big as quarters at this bride. I don't really know what they were thinking but their faces led me to believe they were thinking she was a fairy princess. After the dinner there was a dance and those children wanted to be where they could see the bride. Grins, giggles and dancing uninhibited these children were a joy to watch. I don't know anything about the world they came from but I do know that Saturday night they had fun. They appeared to be thoroughly enjoying the entire celebration but mostly focused on the bride.

Isaiah 62 tells us that "You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord's hand...for the Lord will take delight in you...as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you." Having just witnessed a groom rejoicing over his bride I'm overwhelmed with amazement to know that God thinks of us this way. We (Christians) are the bride of Christ and our God will rejoice over us. Stop for a minute and let that soak in. God is rejoicing over you. You are a delight.