I’ve been thinking about you these last few weeks in spite of the fact that we have never met.
I wish I could check in on you every so often and be a small light of encouragement through this window of uncertainty.
Businesses have temporarily closed their doors.
Families have been ordered to take refuge at home.
Tomorrow is a big question mark for the world.
Yes and a resounding Amen as our hearts grieve for those whose lives have been touched or worse yet, taken during this terrible storm.
Lately, face masks are the new fashion “have to” to protect one’s self from harm, yet no mask is invincible enough to shield us from loss or hope deferred.
Yet the silver lining from these dark ominous clouds reveal that compassion is rising to the surface, strangers and neighbors alike are reaching out and sharing with one another, and the glorious rainbow emerging from these world-wide storms remind us that love is winning.
Through it all, life continues with or without our permission.
Life’s footsteps march onward, it doesn’t pause or stand in place for anything.
Babies continue to be born.
We continue to eat and we continue to sleep.
The sun still wakes the world up in the east and tucks us back into bed from the west.
The earth revolves around the sun as it’s done from the beginning of time.
Seasons change guard with each other, and just a few days ago, the season of winter handed over its baton to spring.
While the news we’ve been intently listening to has been focused on health and finance, as it should be, but as a mother of three brides and as an event decorator, my heart has also been grieving for those brides whose
weddings have been put on pause.
Weddings these brides have been dreaming about their whole life.
Weddings, whose details consume a bride’s thoughts for months leading up to her special day.
Yet airline tickets for wedding guests planning to attend these events have been refunded.
Wedding dates are now cancelled or future weddings in limbo as venues have temporarily closed their doors.
Services for florists, bakers, videographers, photographers, event coordinators, wedding singers, DJ’s and event decorators are no longer needed for the weddings they were booked for during this wedding season of spring.
Brides all over the world aren’t blushing.
Brides weep over their “dreams of a lifetime” put on pause.
While there is nothing I can do to change the situation, I can sit with these brides and hold their hand through my words to say,
“I’m thinking of you.”
Weddings put on pause
Don’t equate to a missed doctor’s appointment.
Women begin dreaming of their wedding day decades earlier as little girls playing dress up in their mother’s heels and makeup.
Weddings are a volume of thoughtful details that take months and years sometimes to prepare for; emotionally, spiritually, and financially.
I’d love to be invited to these bride’s houses and take an emotional tour of her wedding day as she planned, a tour to keep the momentum of her excitement going, a tour to remind these blushing brides that her dreams haven’t been cancelled, just a wedding put on pause.
I’d smile to hold your color coordinated wedding invitation that started it all,
Announcing to the world of two hearts about to be joined as one, an announcement inviting those selected guests to witness your day.
I’d quite possibly hear about your grandmother’s wedding day through her jewelry you’d be wearing, honoring her memory of “something borrowed.”
I have no doubt that mothers or mothers-stepping-in will accompany this tour, crying already as she envisions her daughter stepping into her wedding dress.
Becoming this vision of loveliness she imagined in her dreams as a little girl.
The bride’s tresses are described as twisted and pinned off her soft neck into intricate flowers as beautiful as the bouquet she will be carrying.
No wedding is complete without a prince waiting at the altar, telling his bride it’s time to step into her Cinderella slippers and carriage awaiting outside to take her to the ball.
Brides deserve a grand entrance with all eyes on her, as she is escorted slowly to the altar where her prince is waiting, holding on to the arm of her father or father-of-choice, as these two are kissed and greeted with a garden of flowers and lit candles on both sides of this entrance, an isle befitting a queen.
I can perfectly see the sacred communion table where this bride and groom share and pray over their first meal together.
Shared are
With these rings and vows
“I thee wed.”
A bride and grooms first steps together as man and wife.
Our wedding tour leaves the church and continues to the reception hall where the bride ponders her invited guests she couldn’t wait to see, those who committed to long travels for her special day.
What wedding wouldn’t be complete without a cake, a confection to celebrate two people just married.
Brides are saddened to see the decorated tables empty in her mind of guests, bridal party and her betrothed.
With eyes closed, brides imagine that first dance embraced by the love of her life, swaying as the music quietly plays from her heart.
Sadly, midnight comes for every bride and groom, closing the wedding book of little girl’s dreams and planning,
Yet marking a new beginning of marriage.
The tour closes with all brides shrugging her shoulders wearing that same look of
“what now?”
I would tell each bride that God knows all things.
God has her steps ordered and nothing has taken him by surprise, though the world has been surprised for certain.
I assure each bride to take heart that her
Wedding in pause isn’t forever.
That however or whenever her wedding plans will unfold,
Her wedding will be as it was always supposed to be,
Even better than she imagined,
In God’s perfect plan.