The List

I had no idea how much I would enjoy being a “MOB!” From the outside looking in for a long time, I thought it might be very stressful and emotional. I have found at times it can be….but thankfully…I have had many good friends who have pulled me to the side and offered experience and wisdom which has been invaluable.

They have shared reminders such as: you only have one daughter; you will only pass this way once; enjoy every minute and listen carefully to the “bride” and her wishes; and remember, it is her day not yours. Also, if you can, take a year to plan so that you will really be able to “enjoy the process”. I knew exactly what that last one meant. I have learned it through our kids’ golf…”enjoy the process”. It is so true. The time is passing quickly and I can honestly say, the process is fun…if you pray…and value every day. Collins will never pass this way again. I rejoice in the years of prayer that have gone into who God would have her marry. We are so grateful for Mike and his family!

I was also warned that the hardest part of planning a wedding as a MOB is the “LIST!” Yes, who will be invited to the wedding and who will be left off. Getting correct names and addresses and the feeling of forgetting someone. For years I have always hesitated to have parties at our house because I don’t like to leave people out. I love people and I don’t like exclusion or to hurt others’ feelings. So the advice I have been given is “SPOT ON!”

The “list” has been challenging and very STRESSFUL. Drawing the line on who is invited and who isn’t. I have had to keep in the forefront of my mind that we have another family to consider and their family and friends and, in particular, the bride and groom. Many lists to combine to get the one list. I pray every day about that “list”. There comes a point that you pray and you have to finalize the “list” and move on. You know some people will be left off and you have to truly leave it in God’s hands, trusting that God will work in hearts and others’ feelings.

A wedding should be a happy time…a time of rejoicing and celebration. I love that Jesus’ very first miracle was at a “wedding feast” where the family was going to run out of wine which would have brought great embarrassment to the father of the bride and the bride’s family. Jesus’ mother wasn’t going to have that! Wouldn’t you know that mothers are so special that even though Jesus didn’t seem to take the initiative, his mother did? This was His very first miracle recorded and it had to do with “alcohol!”

We find the account in John chapter 2. “Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, ‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.’ So they took it” (v6-8).

There has been much discussion over the years over whether the water was turned into wine or grape juice. There is more evidence that points to “real wine” alcohol than not. I think we need to look past that debate to something even more important in verses 9-10. “When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.’”

Even though Jesus had told His mother in verse 4 that His “hour has not yet come,” He took care of the problem. A wedding feast was a big deal. The master of the feast is amazed that they “saved the best for last”. Typically the good wine was served first and poor, not so good, wine last. Jesus gave them something good to drink. He cared about what drink and the quality of the drink that would be served at the feast. He cared about the details.

As we prepare for this big day in the life of our family, I am so encouraged that God is in the details. He was in the details and cared about the hearts of those having the wedding in Cana of Galilee….and He is today and He will be on September 17, 2016.

If you are planning a wedding, take comfort that God ordains weddings and is in the details of your family’s wedding. He cared then and HE cares now. Scripture covers all of life’s concerns. I have taken great comfort in the fact that HE has me when finalizing the “LIST” and other details. I continue to put my eyes and faith in Jesus and not in man’s opinion or feelings. I am asking God to cover all of it when planning the family wedding.

He is in the details of all of life and He cares for you!

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered” (Matthew 10:29-30).

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