Here Come the Brides
July 30, 2019 by Hally Franz
Filed under Daily Devotions, Life Topics
By Hally Franz –
My personal artist glopped on wide brushstrokes of the red, orange and brown color concoction. We chatted about her upcoming busy season while she painted my hair. There’s the holiday season, and then the spring season. Soon, Nichole will be creating make-up, hair and nail masterpieces as young girls prepare for proms and graduations, and older girls primp for weddings.
June, I understand, is traditionally the biggest wedding month; however, my husband and I were married over Memorial Day weekend in May. We will celebrate eighteen years of marriage this year. We’ve had bliss and battles, trials and triumphs, but much of the hard work is behind us.
Weddings fascinate me. Exhibitions of creativity—theme weddings and ceremonies in all sorts of settings. Among the many wedding trends, one of my favorites is the candy bar; I wish I had thought of that! Another sweet theme is a spot for families to reminisce. Brides set up a table with vintage photos of their parents’ and grandparents’ weddings.
Couples used to put disposable cameras at tables for the guests to snap away. Now, a young friend told me, brides are having actual photo booths. Guests can get souvenir shots to take home, and leave one with a message behind for the album. I attended a wedding a few years ago where the bride asked specified guests to prepare table centerpieces, according to some color and style guidelines. Each one was to feature a photo of the couple with that particular group of friends or family. That bride trusted her guests much more than this control freak would have, but the results were very impressive and fun to look at during the evening.
My hope is that this year’s couples will enjoy their special days with friends and family, but, more importantly, invite God to the festivities. I’d encourage them to recognize that while the effort and time put toward that once-in-a-lifetime event is worthwhile, the energy, patience and prayer expended once married is much more meaningful. And, veteran married couples, let’s remind young lovers that their wedding photos will last a lifetime in frames, scrapbooks and multiple digital forms, but the pictures they create through their marriages are the real works of art.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, bless those who marry, to produce good fruit together. May they encourage and love one another, and live as shining examples of Your love and faithfulness.
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3 NKJV).
Hally Franz writes about her observations on family and faith, parenting and people. She is a former high school guidance counselor, turned stay-at-home mom. Hally and husband Tim will celebrate twenty years of marriage this year, and have two teens. She is a 4-H leader and band mom, serves as her church secretary and as a Bible class teacher. Hally enjoys traveling with her family and participating in monthly book club meetings with her pals.