Welcome to my eclectic journey of my life and delights. This year my theme is surrendering my writing pen to the true author, Jesus Christ, while looking forward to the future, reflecting on the past and dancing through my journey.




Sunday, March 3, 2013

Today is the DAY, She Becomes a Bride




Mrs. Katherine Nicole Wilson - lace from my wedding dress sewn into the hem of hers

Dearest Daughter,
I have struggled with what to write to you about marriage.  As I look around, I see the struggles that marriage brings to so many families and so many don’t cross the line of “ til death due we part.”  There isn’t any judgment toward those who don’t keep their vows for a lifetime...life can really be hard.  However, I do look to those who have been through many, many of life’s struggles and continued their journey in marriage.  For me, this heritage is mine through my grandparents, Bill’s parents, my sister-in-law and my own parents.  Each could write books of the struggles their marriages have walked through and, at times, crawled through.  As Deanie once said, “you just didn’t leave each other in my day. Even if it got hard, you stayed.”  There is something so simple about that and yet so true.

As we approach Christmas, I think of Joseph and Mary.  Their journey of marriage couldn’t have been easy from the beginning.  Joseph had to hear the word of God himself and he had to be obedient...taking his wife and newborn child away from danger.  Through all the years, they heard the voices of people who had to have believed that Jesus was a child from another man that Mary had had relationships with before marriage.  Their union couldn’t have been easy...and they were human just like all of us.

So my words of advice....you are in this for the long haul.  There will be seasons of complete excitement in which you feel your feet never touch the floor.  There will be seasons of complete struggle that only leaning on the Lord will keep you together.  There will be seasons that you really like each other and seasons that you will not like each other.  Each season is a time in which the Lord takes two people and molds them into one.  Any two different materials molded into one only happens through some form of heat or pressure... or both.  Your wedding bands were produced through heat and pressure.   The scratches and worn places on your rings through the years will testify to the process God is doing in both of your lives, as He molds you into one.

I look back on my grandparents and Deanie and Lefty...they were one when the Lord called the husbands home.  I look to my parents and Betty and Gerry...both couples are one...this didn’t happen overnight... they both share 50-plus years of marriage.  I look to your Dad and I and see God still adding pressure and heat to make us one...my prayer for us and for you is that you will allow the Lord to add the pressure, the heat and the unbelievable joys and challenges that it takes to make you one.  Don’t give up until you see His reflection in your relationship.  I see His reflection in the relationships that are yours and my inheritance.

I leave you with poems from Ruth Bell Graham..another one who walked through her marriage journey until the Lord called her home.


God,
let me be all he ever dreamed
of loveliness and laughter,
Veil his eyes a bit
because there are so many little flaws;
somehow, God,
please let him see
only the bride I long to be,
remembering ever after-
I was all he ever dreamed
of loveliness and laughter.


Here are more of Ruth Bell Graham’s words and  her prayer on her wedding day....they are my prayer for you also, my only daughter.


“With this ring I thee wed…” your strong, familiar voice fell like a benediction
on my heart that dusk; tall candles flickered gently, our age-old vows were
said, and I could hear someone begin to sing an old, old song... timeworn and
lovely, timeworn and dear.  And in that dusk were old, old friends – and you,
an old friend, too (and dearer than them all).  Only my ring seemed new – its
plain gold surface warm and bright and strange to me in that
candlelight…unworn – unmarred.  Could it be that wedding rings like other
things are lovelier when scarred?


Never let it end, God, never – please – all this growing loveliness, all of these
brief moments of fresh pleasure – never let it end, let us always be a little
breathless at love’s beauty; never let us pause to reason from a sense of
duty; never let us stop to measure just how much to give; never let us stop to
weigh love; let us live – and live!  Please God, let our hearts kneel always,
love their only Master, knowing the warm impulsiveness of shattered
alabaster: I know You can see things the way a new bride sees, so never let
it end, God, never – please.







22 Joining in with more words:

Debbie said...

Such beautiful and true words of wisdom for your precious daughter. Wishing them both YEARS AND YEARS of happiness and joy together! She looks just beautiful! HUGS

Farm Girl said...

She is beautiful and I love your words. I wish you just joy on this day. May God bless all of you today.

Pom Pom said...

The angels are singing! Golden days! Bless you!

Christine said...

Words that inspire and words of love that a mother could only share with her daughter, on her special day.
Thinking about you and your family today.


(love this post)

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

Beautiful words, beautiful bride, beautiful mother. I am so there with you today in spirit!

Lisa said...

OMG!!!! What a gorgeous bride! I love how she incorporated part of your dress into hers. And what beautiful words of wisdom.:)

Leslie @ Farm Fresh Fun said...

Such a wise mother and beautiful daughter. Thank you for sharing your words here with us. As always, they inspire. Wishing you a day of laughter, joy and kick up your heels dancing with all your handsome men!
xoxoxoxo
Leslie

Vickie said...

What a wonderful letter and legacy you give to your daughter on her special day! I love your words to her! The poems were very special, too. I hope and pray that you all have a wonderful, magical and beautiful day!!!

She's absolutely breathtaking, Janette...

Anonymous said...

Dearest Janette - Blessings to you and your beautiful family with so many changes! I was the bride's mother this past November - daughter and hubby are thriving and our electric bill dropped by $30!! I still cannot put into words the emotional roller coaster being an empty nester has been this past year. I also don't think I could have written a letter to my precious girl so well as you have crafted here. And, what a beautiful bride she was!! It was not until January that my daughter and I had a good heart to heart with lots of tears and confessions of love and respect - well past all the hoopla of wedding planning. I know you have a number of heavy things weighing on you, but as you continue to thank the Lord for all His goodness - and a beautiful bride daughter and future daughter-in-law - may you know His care for you as HIS bride. Be ye blessed!!
Joy!
Kathy

Sandy said...

This is a precious legacy for your beautiful girl, Janette. I wish the special pair all the happiness and joy married life can bring and healthy children in the future. I am so happy for all of you. And the dress, her hair, the pose, all just beautiful.
Love & Prayers~

Maryann said...

Your daughter is beautiful and your words precious. Blessings and hugs to you today!

Angela said...

Beautiful words! Their wedding was beautiful and full of blessings. I'm so glad to be able to share some of that today with you. May the Lord's blessing be upon them and continue to be upon you and Bill. BTW, you looked beautiful too:)

Debbie Petras said...

Such beautiful words for your daughter. Somehow I didn't realize the wedding was so close! Yikes! She looks so beautiful in that dress. I love that you helped put everything together so beautifully. Sending you lots of hugs.
Debbie

Brenda Lazzaro Yoder, said...

So, so beautiful. Thank you for sharing this very beautiful, intimate letter with us. How many girls long for a mother who would love her so much. Enjoy and my God's blessing pour out on each of you.

Anonymous said...

There will be more happy moments still to fill their lives..that's what marriage brings..love your post ..it's all grand and precious..
All the very best..and she is beautiful
Hugs

Debbie said...

I am crying my eyes out. Really and truly I am. I don't know when a post has touched my heart so much.

May God richly bless this precious union. Oh, how I long to wear the shoes you have worn not once, but twice in the past ten days.

Thank you for always, always, being a blessing to me.

Amy said...

Beautiful. Thank you.

Sharon said...

Three words:

I. NEED. KLEENEX.

Oh Janette, what a beautiful post. I hope you printed out a copy and gave it to your daughter. This should be something that she keeps as a treasured heirloom of her very special day.

She looked absolutely breath-taking. The dress was like a fairy tale come true.

Can we see more pictures??

Prayers for the newlyweds. And may God truly bless them with a marriage that is solidly rooted in HIS love.

GOD BLESS!

Rebecca said...

So VERY well said, Janette! How busy & blessed you must be feeling these days....

The Ruth Bell Graham poem/prayer are beautiful & solid stuff. They still express my heart after almost 42 years of marriage.

Cecilia Marie Pulliam said...

Such beautiful word, Janette, and so very, very true. Those of us who were not able to keep our spouses as long as we liked (because God chose to take them home), know how precious every single moment is. Once it is gone, you can never get it back, just like angry words said in haste or the heat of the moment.

A beautiful bride, Janette. I am sure you are a very proud mom.

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Tanna said...

Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful post, Janette...

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