Dear Friends,
The time is almost upon us. It hasn’t totally dawned on me yet. No nervousness yet. I don’t think it will feel real until I’m standing there in the middle of the ceremony. (Which I can’t wait to hear and experience, bt-dubs!)
I have had a couple Bridezilla moments… Not bad ones, but just moments when I have a small tantrum when people try to butt-in on my planning. See visual approximation below:
In reality, I haven’t been as big a bridezilla as this woman, who I’m pretty sure should spend eternity in wedding hell. Not that I’m judging…
I have to admit that I am tired. Little things bug me. Then, I snap. I’m mainly tired from divisiveness I’m tired of a divided family where I have to work hard to make both sides happy. I’m tired of divided political leanings, where I have to be careful around loved ones who view the world differently than me. I’m tired of negativity in the media. I’m tired of trying to exist in a divided denomination. It is exhausting trying to live in the balance, when the rest of the world pulls me to and fro. I’m exhausted. So when little things like a family member offering some suggestion for my wedding at this late date, or asking me something they really shouldn’t be asking, I get annoyed. I let the little thing fester in my brain until it becomes something more than what it is. I am extremely lucky that I can share those things with Brad before I angrily respond to emails.
I know that after we’re married, many of that exhaustion won’t go away. But it’s more or less given me a way of viewing my wedding and marriage a little differently. There are so many negative things about weddings and family to get caught up in. I want to show in my wedding and in my marriage that unity is greater than divisiveness. That love is greater than hate, strong as death. There is no room for divisiveness in love. So this is my call. To live in unity. With God, Brad, my family, my faith, the world.
I don’t know how I’m voting in the next election, but if I do, it will be a vote for unity. My “I do” will be a vote for unity, as will my vows, my prayers, my singing and my dancing.
My prayer today is from the Book of Common Prayer, page 828.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who settest the solitary in families: We commend to thy continual care the homes in which thy people dwell. Put far from them, we beseech thee, every root of bitterness, the desire of vainglory, and the pride of life. Fill them with faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness. Knit together in constant affection those who, in holy wedlock, have been made one flesh. Turn the hearts of the parents to the children, and the hearts of the children to the parents; and so enkindle fervent charity among us all, that we may evermore be kindly affectioned one to another; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
In other news, this is the second Psalm for the Daily Office: Evening the day of our wedding! I love 104.
104 Bless the Lord, O my soul!…
The Hyphen 