I have one more wedding thought to ponder before closing the book on this sweet chapter. It was something Kyle said during his reception blessing. He was talking about the groom.
He’s said it before, at other weddings. How he loves to watch the face of the groom. When the bride makes her entrance and everyone stands, facing the back as she proceeds down the aisle. And it’s not her face Kyle watches, but his.
It strikes me now, how he must be remembering. Twenty-five years ago, the two of us. His heart beating and smile beaming. I remember him saying how his face hurt from so much smiling. And there I was in all those ruffles and puffs. Everything back then was more, not less. Hair big, train long, sleeves fluffed. Like a princess.
And I was. His princess, and oh how he loved, and loves still. And so now he watches the face of the groom. Remembering and feeling it again. All that passion and longing and wild delight.
And this time it was our son, the groom. Beaming. Heart beating wild. His bride breathtaking in simple elegance.
Kyle said it that night, and it’s come up again, in a sermon, and a book I’ve been reading. This comment about the groom.
That’s Him, you know. The Groom. It’s Jesus. The one waiting and longing and loving his bride.
David Crowder sings it in a song. Oh, how he loves. Jealous. For me.
And it’s not at all what you’d expect, is it? That He’d be the one waiting and aching with longing. Jesus. For us.
Of course the bride longs, too, but not the same. Ask any who will give you an honest answer – and I should probably ask my new daughter to confirm. But I think in my heart it’s true. That the bride is distracted, somewhat. Thinking about her groom, yes, but also just a bit divided. With thoughts of her big day. With thoughts of her own beauty.
But not the groom. He’s there for one thing, and one thing only. His bride.
When you think about Jesus, what comes to mind? Do you think of a groom longing? For you?
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:31-32)
A mystery. Profound.
And oh, how He loves us so.
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