Our Daughter's Wedding

Our Daughter’s Wedding

Cheryl and I have been involved in several dozen weddings, but the one I performed on Jan. 7 was a new experience for both of us: it was the first wedding of one of our children. We’ve been to innumerable rehearsals and dinners, but they didn’t really prepare us for when it was for our daughter. “What is my role here,” I wondered numerous times. “Am I the minister performing this wedding, or am I the father?” The answer, of course, was, “Yes.”

From the moment our kids are born we prepare them for this day. All the years spent in our home watching us serve each other, argue, reconcile, worship, take vacations, go to work, pray at the table and a host of other activities frames their concept of what a marriage and family should be. They are in training the moment they enter our family. That’s how God arranged it.

Then the day comes when they want to experience for themselves what they did in the homes of their parents. And we pray that what they experienced will have them prepared for that Big Day and the many days to follow.

It takes some major mental overhauling for us parents to accept that our kids are now adults, and even more to accept (at least for our daughters) that they are now Mrs., with someone else’s last name. It’s a transition, but a good transition, one that keeps the cycle of life progressing ever forward. Family-building is the greatest testament to our trust in God’s sovereignty.

Cheryl and I look at these pictures today.

But, there are still some other pictures that stand out in my memory, like this one.

To Matt and Jenny: we wish you a lifetime of happiness and companionship. And God bless your union!

Warren Baldwin