Like Going to War
“Marriage is an adventure, like going to war.” -G. K. Chesterton
My brother will wed his lovely, albeit much, much younger, bride this Friday evening at a small church wedding in Nashville. My group (three children and one husband of almost 15 years) will be sleeping in a friend’s home on a single blow-up mattress because my brother’s home is the site of the wedding reception. We could have elected to stay in a hotel but why eschew such grand stories for mere comfort and a decent night’s sleep?
Seven cousins under the age of seven will serve as flower maidens, dripping rose petals throughout the church, clad in matching dresses, bows and ballet slippers yet to be purchased. Three boys, nine and under, will serve, alternatingly, as ring bearers and Bible bearers. Each boy will be wearing a matching pastel tie that each has loudly, vehemently, and honestly rather angrily, rebelled against, threatened to throw off at the last minute, etc.
Edward has been chosen as Bible bearer, thus we spend the rest of this week reminding him that Bible bearers have no speaking parts, no singing parts and no dancing parts. Bible bearers, like spelling bee participants, are not entertainers. They importantly, yet silently, walk down the aisle, clutching the Bible tightly, looking neither to the right nor the left, brandishing no strange gestures, no mouth noises, no unusual facial gestures, simply walking slowly, holding a Bible, and then standing still for the duration of what I pray to be a short series of wedding vows.
I’m not holding my breath. Would you?
Here is Edward today receiving a proper wedding hair cut–his busy hands unable to leave alone the fire bell that graces the “hair cutting fire truck” into which he was nearly unable to fold his gangly legs.
That child has fun wherever he goes! Would that we all had such attitude!
Yes, I’m going into battle here.
Please pray for me.
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