Have you ever planned a wedding? I’m guessing you probably designed your own, but have you coordinated someone else’s wedding? There are so many details that cannot be overlooked, and it can be one of the most stressful times in a bride’s life…
When my daughter Charity and her fiance Dan were in university, they decided to get married just a few weeks after they were both done school. Charity also worked as a lifeguard in the evenings. She was limited in her spare time, and to my delight, I was appointed as the official wedding planner. I love weddings and also cherish my daughter.
When Charity and Dan went for a 5 km run one day, Dan bent down to tie his shoe, and to Charity’s surprise, he found a ring in the grass and asked her to marry him. They had been dating since high school, and Dan was every parent’s dream for their daughter. We couldn’t have been more ecstatic about their future marriage.
Dealing With a Stubborn Husband
There was only one teenie problem, we were having the wedding at our home. Charity wanted to get married in our yard, but we had no yard… just mounds of dirt everywhere. The first step was to hire a landscaper. Charity and I had convinced Vance of the grand idea, that most homes have lawns.
Vance had hopes of never having to mow a lawn again in his lifetime. He was really endeared to our ‘country hick’ look. I could not convince my husband that having a yard would be a great benefit to our family.
Daughters have a way of melting their daddy’s heart and when Charity said she wanted to get married at home…a lawn appeared.
When Stress Arrives Before A Wedding
Step one was done. We now had to rent tents, chairs, tablecloths, dishes…the list went on and on. Renting a hall is so much easier than hosting your own wedding. There was a long list of items that needed to be collected, borrowed or rented.
Our son Kyle was very sick around this time. He had lost eighty pounds, and a scoping of his stomach was booked the week before Charity’s wedding. Kyle has autism, so it’s not easy to get him through the doors of a hospital since he has to be drugged at home and then taken in.
Vance’s dad was also dying and was in the hospital battling cancer at this time. Vance had been going to the hospital many days to give his mom a chance to go home or run errands. Without Vance’s help, my plate began to get full, and my worries were expanding daily.
Learning to Give God My Plans
Kyle’s scope was the week before the wedding. We were up to our eyeballs in last minute details and planning. Life seemed off-kilter. I was feeling anxious and went to bed early one night. I dreamed that when I came out of the house and went to walk down the aisle, Charity and Dan had already been married. They didn’t wait for me. I was sobbing and devastated and woke up with a heavy heart.
God was asking me to give the wedding over to him since I was worried about it too much. Finally, I agreed, “God, I give this wedding to you, and I trust you to take care of all the details.” As soon as I let go of the control, I felt the weight of it lift from my shoulders.
Seven days before the wedding we took Kyle to his scope, and the experience went better than planned. Kyle left the hospital cheerfully drugged and saying, “Popsicle, popsicle, popsicle.”
A peacefulness fell over our family, the week before the wedding. One I had not felt in a long time. Joy filled our home, and we had a fun week of last-minute details. Charity and I put it all together with the help of my daughter Aryanna and Charity’s friends. We had some wonderful mother/daughter moments that I will cherish.
The Big Day Arrives
Friends and family started walking up our driveway the day of the wedding, many of them greeted us with, “We have been praying for you!” Being loved by so many people and also by God, touched my soul like a warm hug.
God took care of every little detail. The weather was perfect, the wedding was beautiful, the food was scrumptious, and the day was wonderful.
Charity and Dan were married on our gorgeous lawn, and we celebrated under six big tents in the backyard at dinner time.The bride and groom came out the front door at 10 pm, and the guests made an arch with their hands as the newlyweds ran under. Charity and Dn hopped in their car and drove off as we all stood waving and cheering.
My handsome husband stood there looking a little forlorn. The car brakes came on, and Charity hopped out and came running over and wrapped her arms around Vance’s neck and whispered, “I love you, Dad.” Then the couple drove away for their honeymoon.
Vance had tears in his eyes that night and for three months after, whenever he thought of his daughter not being at home anymore. But he was overjoyed to have an expensive lawn put in, spend a truckload of money and give Charity her dream wedding because he loved his little girl. Her dad had been her hero.
Reflection
Is there something in your life right now that has really been causing you great worry and your losing sleep over it? Maybe you are planning your wedding or your daughter’s and have been pulling your hair out due to stress. You need a few minutes with Jesus to clear out your worries and reset your inner peace.
You have a heavenly father who wants you to come talk to him and tell him all your cares. He knows exactly what you desire and wants to be the one to meet those needs.
God wants to be your hero.Â
I went in the house that night and went to bed. Before falling asleep, I said a prayer, “Thank you, Father, for planning the wedding. I love you!” I sighed as I went to sleep thinking about how much Vance loved his girls, and how much God had cared about helping Charity and me plan her special day.
God wants to bless you.
A loving dad may not have raised you, but you have a heavenly father who very much loves you, and wants to shower you with generosity and abundance. Not necessarily financial wealth, but an outpouring of peace, love, joy and happiness.
God’s heart is reflected in the heart of loving earthly fathers. Just like Vance wanted to make all Charity’s dreams come true for her wedding, God wants to make all your hopes come true too. But first, he wants you to give all your wedding dreams to him and let him take care of your special day.
Give your worries to God today, and see what beautiful dreams he has for you.💗
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4: 6-7
