We managed to get in a Turkey Bowl yesterday just before the blustery weather arrived. We have played football in much worse weather, but this time we were in the street in front of the house. And we had five players whose cumulative age was 20 years old. How's your math? One 7 year-old. Two 5 year-olds. One 2 year-old. And one-year-old Josiah ran around for a few minutes as well. Times have certainly changed over the 40-plus years we have been playing that Saturday after Thanksgiving at high noon affair. So has the intensity of competition. But we sure had a lot of fun. Of course some things never change. I am just as sore this morning as I used to be after playing two or three hours full tilt with a bunch of weekend athletes. Wouldn't trade it for the world.
I had a wedding to officiate last night. Another destination wedding at the San Luis Hotel. Interestingly enough, the couple will make their home in California. He is a doctor there. Why get married in Galveston? Simple matter of logistics, apparently. Her family is from East Texas, so they wanted to be near enough for them to come. Two sets of grandparents and a 94 year-old great grandmother. Good decision.
The ceremony itself went off without a hitch, except that it had to be moved indoors because of the weather. I was glad to hear that decision had been made. The lawn around the gazebo would have been a nasty bog. The room was right next to their reception site, so that made everything very convenient. There was one thing, though …
The younger of the two flower girls was barely two years old. And needless to say, she was the life of the party, well, at least of the ceremony. She was led down the aisle hand in hand with the other flower girl and the ring bearer, who were each four or five years old. Her older counterpart did her best to flick flower petals out of her basket while maintaining her grip on the little one. When they arrived at the front the ring bearer let out a sigh of relief and went to his appointed spot. The older girl was headed to her spot when her grip slipped. The young one was free.
Now she didn't take off in a dead run and knock over flowerpots or anything. She stayed right up front, right next to the groom. In fact he squatted down and took her into his arms and directed his attention to the back of the room where the bride and her father were beginning their walk. The groom finally stood up to greet them when they arrived, leaving the little one to explore. The best man tried to corral her for a time, and he was successful long enough for the couple to make it up the stairs. But once again she escaped, and struggled to join them at the top of what must have seemed like Mount Kilamanjaro to her. At one point the bride and groom each reached down and held her hands. That was fine until the groom realized they would need their hands for the ring ceremony. So the Wedding Wiggler was allowed freedom of movement once again. Cell phone cameras were clicking, as was the professional photographer, though she was trying to be discreet. I probably could have said just about anything and no one would have noticed, except maybe the bride, who was determined to stay focused on whatever I had to say. Finally the bride's Dad had about all he could stand. He walked up and gently removed the little princess from the proceedings. The rest of the ceremony was kind of anti-climactic. But we did get them hitched. Hope someone had a video camera going. That was close to Funniest Home Videos material.
Isaiah 11:3-5 says, "He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. 5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist."
Father, walk with that couple into their new life, and be with that little one as she grows into what promises to be a beautiful, inquisitive young lady. Amen.
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