December 4 – “Got ‘em hitched”

We put up our outside Christmas lights yesterday.  We were thinking ahead last year.  They were each tagged to tell us where to put them.  The first ones we picked up said, "Start at plug and East."  Now that's very creative.  But where did we put the plug?  And we also discovered a tree and two of those deer shapes that Nathan and April bought back when they lived across the street from us.  They were packaged like transformers, though.  The heads were folded over into their bodies and their legs were tucked together so that they fit into a regular shaped box.  It was strange to look at.  Stranger to figure out how to put them together.   Jachin had his seventh birthday party today.  I missed the party part because I had to do a wedding in Spring, Texas.  That's about 73 miles away from Galveston.  The groom was just transferred out of state by his company, so they had to move the date of their wedding up.  He was a friend of a guy whose wedding I performed several years ago.  They were talking a few weeks ago and the groom lamented that since they changed their date, they were going to have to be married by a justice of the peace.  That's when my name came up.  He emailed me and we worked it out where I could do the wedding and still be back at the supper following Jachin's party.     The wedding was at the bride's Mom's house out in the country.  Lots of trees everywhere.  The ceremony was in the back yard. Under one of those arches.  Poinsettias were the bush of choice for decorations.  They wanted to do a unity candle, and had already bought one, but had no idea how to do it.  They had the center candle set up with two old red ones lit on the side.  I was figuring on how to explain the symbolism of that when I noticed the two smaller white ones that obviously came with the big one.  Same ribbon.  Same bow.  They were inside, flanking the television set in mismatched holders.  That was all I needed.  I gathered up the groom and the Moms and told them to just follow my lead during the service.  They did a great job, and everyone seemed to love the ceremony.  Either way, we got 'em hitched, as they say.   James 3:17 says, "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere."   Father, walk with those two who got married today.  Marriage and moving.  Two of the biggest stressors on the planet.  All at once.  They need you.  Amen.