Ed, my old neighbour in Saskatchewan, wanted to hear about the wedding I officiated at yesterday. He asked, 鈥淒id the bride or groom faint? Did the groom act like he was having second thoughts?鈥澛犅犅犅�
I told Ed, 鈥淭hey were young and in love. Both were confident as their wedding vows were exchanged. It was a simple service in the backyard of the groom鈥檚 grandfather鈥檚 home. A small group of relatives and friends were there to witness their marriage ceremony. It was very close to a perfect wedding, I thought, except their kiss was a little too long and passionate, but they sure enjoyed it.鈥�
Ed had another question for me, 鈥淲as it a free bar or did people have to pay for their drinks?
鈥淭here was no bar to celebrate the marriage,鈥� I answered. 鈥淭he bride and groom announced the reception would be without alcoholic beverages on their wedding invitations.鈥�
My old neighbour said that there was no need to change water into wine at that wedding. He added that there is no worry about running out of wine if you don鈥檛 allow any from the start. Ed insisted I answer his question, 鈥淲hy do so many happy weddings turn into miserable marriages?鈥�
Of course, I insisted that he answer me, 鈥淲hy do so many happy weddings become good marriages?鈥澛�
I asked Ed if he had heard: 鈥淢arriage is like twirling a baton, turning a handspring, or eating with chopsticks: it looks easy until you try it.鈥� (Helen Rowland) Since Ed hadn鈥檛 heard that quote, I hit him with one more: 鈥淎 good marriage is like a casserole: only those responsible for it really know what goes into it.鈥�
I think marriage is God鈥檚 answer to our need for loving companionship. The Lord said that it was not good for us to be alone that we need a helper in life. In Ecclesiastes, God says it this way: 鈥淭wo are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one, will lift, up, his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him - a threefold cord is not quickly broken."
I was reading of Linda Wolfe of Anderson, Indiana USA who at age 68 is recognized as the world's most married woman. She has been married 23 times so far. She is open to marrying again because she says life gets lonely.
I believe that the loving companionship God wants a couple to build in their marriage reflects His nature and will. God鈥檚 love for us never ends, and He would have us endure and bear in continual love for each other in marriage. We are to be patient and kind to each other. As spouses, we do not envy or boast; we are not arrogant or rude; we do not insist on our own way, become irritable or resentful of each other. We take no pleasure in wrongdoing but rejoice in the truth. If you want to love your mate this way, God will help you.聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽
