Wedding Bells

By Bob A Clifton
Got a chance to go to a wedding this weekend. It has been a while since I had the opportunity to see a wedding. Fantastic! Everyone was beautiful and the whole thing was pulled off perfectly. The reception was well attended with, I think, six different kinds of cake. Great food, plenty of smiles, beautiful Catholic church, wonderful music, and ladies crying…
Yes, ladies crying like you wouldn’t believe. As always the groomsmen arrived up front and then one by one the bridesmaids took their place. Everyone anticipating the moment when the bride comes down the isle and then all of the sudden water! Not the sound of water in the bathroom but tears from the bridesmaid, and tears with a lady standing right next to me. Not your everyday chicken soup tears, but real tears; almost what I would consider weeping. My first thought was, “how did she do that”? One moment everyone is smiling, the next moment crying. It was perplexing to the male soul.
Not to the ladies though. For ladies this day is written on the landscape of their heart for years before a man ever considers the option. After talking to ladies that I have counseled, friends of mine, my wife etc… The wedding day is probably the most anticipated day, next to having children. They can explain what the wedding dress looks like, their soon to be husband. They know the church, the songs that will play, bridesmaids, honeymoon and everything else in between. So when the bride comes walking down that isle, they already know how she must be feeling that day.
Men, this should remind us of one fact that you do not need a degree to understand. Women are different than men. Didn’t need a degree to figure that one out huh? More than that, their hearts are precious and different than ours. Where we spend a majority of our time figuring out what the next thing to conquer is, they are wandering how the prince will come rescue them. Young girls who do not get this kind of delight from their fathers go searching for it in boys. Young boys, old boys, it doesn’t really make a difference. Written on the heart of every woman and every young daughter is “do you delight in me.” You would be amazed to find out how many girls never had that question answered. So when a boy will delight in her because she is willing to give herself up, she’ll do it. Most the time, not because she wants to, but because she wants to be delighted in so much!
Two weeks ago my daughter declared that twelve of her stuffed dogs were going to celebrate their birthday on May 2nd. Don’t ask me why and don’t ask her why, she just wanted them to have a birthday. So for the low low price of $8.00 I went out the night before and picked up balloons, napkins and a cupcake. A little silly? Possibly. Did it have a huge impact on her. You better believe it! “Dad, did you do all of this for me.”
Men, what I am banking on is that her dad has delighted in her so much over the years and pointed to her heavenly father that loves her, so she will not need to go look for that affirmation from boys. Is it a guarantee? I wish! I would buy that insurance today. I do believe that scripture makes it clear that as he pursued his bride, the church, she felt more safety and comfort.
How does your wife and daughter need delighted in today?