The Gift of the Bridegroom

Our eldest daughter is getting married soon.  She is our eldest - well, a twin - so technically she is "one of" the eldest - of our four daughters, and the last - certainly not the least - to marry.

We thought we knew our daughters - after all, we birthed them, raised them, lived in the same house with them....but when each young man entered the picture, a 'new' daughter emerged. Oh, she didn't transform into someone unrecognizable, but it was these young men who enhanced her already precious traits, bringing out qualities not yet tapped.  These couples complement each other; they sharpen each other; they put their minds together creating new ideas.....and....laying a foundation for a new generation....they are a combined mixture of character, quality and consistency....blended.
I think about how each of these guys chose to marry our girls.  They didn't opt to "shack up" first and test the waters to see if they were compatible.  They chose to honor our girls - respect their reputation and integrity.  They chose to be obedient to God and his whole idea of marriage. In today's world, this is truly courageous.

It's these times I return to memories of my own bridegroom of 36 years.  Re-reading a familiar passage of scripture - Ephesians 5:22-33, I saw something fresh.  For those of who are married for any length of time, we acknowledge our commitment does take a huge amount of investing in our relationship in order to make it last. And, it's not just to make it last, but, to make it strong! Without the Biblical foundation and encouragement from God's Word, I wonder where we would be otherwise - marriage would no longer hold any meaning whatsoever.

Here's what caught my attention:

"Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."

As I see our young adults moving into marriage and a lifetime together - this particular statement gives me pause.  My prayer is for these modern-day bridegrooms to hold their wives tightly.  To give her his full attention, love and respect.  To become so embraced, that they know each other's heart beat through the storms and triumphs that will come their way.

This is Marriage - a sacrifice that takes courage.

This is God's gift: Jesus - our Bridegroom.

Leaving behind all he held dear - holding fast to his Bride - the two become one.  This mystery is profound.