There were tears, laughter and reminiscing. Isn’t that what family gatherings are all about?  When a child, our parents moved us from our homeland- away from our aunts, uncles, cousins and dozens of other relatives. As a result, my family of origin had very little interaction with extended  family for the duration of our lives.

When I married,  my then husband’s family became my family. We had beautiful reminiscences with them. Yet, I yearned for times with my own family. For the past twenty years, I’ve made countless trips to make memories with my brother and his family. God has blessed them with a gift of love and dedication which not all families have.

Thus, when I was invited to participate in the exultation and celebration of my great nephew’s wedding, I eagerly accepted.   The distance didn’t deter me from the recollections I knew I would cherish. As my plane landed, my brother was awaiting my arrival and a whirlwind of excitement and remembrances began.

I arrived at the home of my niece where her immediate and extended family had been working for days in preparation for this special event. As I watched them scurrying and bustling about making certain each detail was completed to perfection, I thought of how God plans and implements every detail of our lives.

 We often spend weeks and perhaps months in preparation for special events but most often  they are over too quickly and merely a memory. But oh the joy, of such commemorations. From birth until the last days of our lives, it seems they are akin to bright and glaring rays of sun until they slowly dim into shadows and memories.

Just as the wedding guests arrive to be seated and observe the celebration, we too often take a seat and enjoy the ceremony? God plans for occurrences in our lives. We take a seat to enjoy the blessings, but how often do we realize how detailed He was with the happenings of our lives?

 As the groom’s mother and grandmother endured the loss of their son and grandson to the arms and love of another, it is a reminder of God’s plan for each of us. Although, painful to see our children leave home to begin new lives, it is God’s plan. Genesis 2:24 reminds us that a man will leave his mother and father to be united with his wife to become one.

What a delight and excitement to be a part of celebrating this chapter of a young couple’s life. Not only do wedding guests enjoy being a party to such a monumental event, there is also a moment of anticipation  as we view the bride walking the aisle to become the wife of her beloved. As they exchange their wedding vows almost always it takes the guests back to the day they too “became one.” Love, laughter and warm memories are truly “in the air” during these special events.

For me, it was not only the celebration of the precious couple, but what happiness to visit with family I seldom see. I thanked God, for He was in the details of each aspect, including my participation. James 1:17, “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”