The Aftermath...

We went to a wedding many years ago...the reception was at a place called "The Aftermath"...I loved that name...what a perfect description of what takes place after a holy ceremony where two lives are joined.
Aftermath: The result of an event or occurrence considered collectively.

The aftermath of my daughter's wedding this weekend was utter joy.
The ceremony honored God...the One who orchestrated their meeting and then their love.
There was so much fun and food and laughter and smiling...
The kind of smiling that makes your face ache...the kind of laughter that requires drink awareness to avoid spit takes...the kind of food that on a normal day you'd feel guilty about but the occasion absolutely requires its consumption, the kind of fun that is Youtube worthy!
But the joy...the joy was felt deep inside.
The kind of joy that comes from utter assurance.
I asked Jake how his feet felt the night before the big day...
"They're pretty warm...no, actually, they're very hot" was his response.
Assurance.
Christina's nervousness stemmed from the number of eyes that would be watching as they said their vows.  So many happy, tear-brimmed eyes...trained on her, in her sparkling gown...the center of attention...a place she typically avoids...
The promises they'd make were for our benefit...for God's eyes...there wasn't a doubt they'd made the promises to each other long before this day...

Stephen (our pastor) prayed with us before we all walked down the aisle...

And then she walked down the aisle...to the hymn "Be Thou My Vision" on the arm of her misty dad... 

Let's just stop right here...

To hear that hymn while watching my daughter walk down the aisle was so moving...so appropriate...so...perfectly bridal...the wedding march seems silly now... 

Then the question...Who gives this woman in marriage?
"Her mother and I do" was uttered and then her hand slipped away from her father's arm and into the hand of the one she loves deeply...
Yet...
We give her away, to receive another son?
The whole giving to receive thing...
A God thing...
Let go to gain more...

It was easy to give her to him.
He's a good man.
Her grandpa said so when he read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
He told them both how much they were loved - by God and all of us - and then read this:
"Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor;
If either of them falls down
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."
Grandpas have a way of drawing tears out...
But they always seem to have hankies handy.

Their vows were said...
Their rings exchanged...

Then Stephen paused for a moment...
To put on a go pro camera...
Because everyone knows the pastor has the best view of the kiss!
And they must have practiced because it was a very good kiss!

And so their vows were sealed,
Official.
She was his.
He was hers.
Legally.
Before God.
And a lot of precious witnesses.

And it was time to party.
We all danced our way back down the aisle...
And celebrated into the night.

Until it was time to say goodbye...

They drove off in a balloon-filled, streamer-covered car..."Just Married"...

I thought I'd feel a let-down after they left...when all of the fun was over.
But I didn't.
The aftermath of joy remained.
The kind of joy that comes from utter assurance...
That God has blessed this marriage...