We are just back from a family wedding, and it truly was lovely. My nephew got married, and my brother and sister-in-law hosted the reception in their gorgeous back yard. The Lord gave them a beautiful evening--sunny and slightly cool (and the evening before there had been terrific thunder storms that knocked out power and blew over trees! Whew, thank You Lord for Your gracious timing!). In my wildest dreams, I cannot imagine having a reception in my backyard. My amazing sister-in-law did much of the decorating herself, and it looked simply magical yet elegantly simple.
All my brothers and sisters and I had the best time going over to their house after the wedding brunch on saturday to help with all the last minute setting up and getting ready. We laughed and marveled and chatted and reminisced as we moved tables and unfolded chairs and set out the table linens. Boy, what a reminder that it is a mighty big blessing to be a part of family. Again, thank You Lord. And it was so dear to see their three sons hanging white lanterns from the trees, running errands, and all happily (for the most part) helping. Another thank You Lord!
A couple of thoughts: I could never ever in a million bizillion years do anything like that. First of all, we would have to bulldoze our yard and bring in one of those home improvement shows to transform our weeds into wonderland. But we operate on the theory that the Lord made the weeds, so we are thankful for them--especially if they are green. In Livingston Taylor's words, "There are flowers in my garden. Pretty ones all in a row. But my favorite are the weeds: they don't know where to grow--but they know enough to grow." Amen. Let's here it for the never say die attitude of weeds that know enough to grow!
But in addition to my abysmal skills as a gardner (my husband says I just like the "idea" of gardening but don't want to actually do the work involved--that would be correct), I simply cannot imagine being organized enough to plan all that and then somehow make it happen... on time. I can see it now: we would forget to mow the weeds... uh grass and would still be running to Harris Teeter to pick up Petit Fours and ice as the guests arrived. Martha Stewart, I'm not. Definitely, positively, completely not. She'd be offended to even be mentioned in the same paragraph with me.
A few years ago this would have been cause for discouragement--all those lacks, all those weaknesses, all those holes in my character and abilities. But now, well, I am beginning to learn to rejoice in all the differing gifts God has so graciously bestowed on His differing children. Thank You Lord that You gave to some the gift of cooking and hospitality. Boy, I sure do enjoy being the recipient of those gifts! Thank You for the gifts of gardening and for those who make this world a beautiful place, filled with Your colorful flowers and graceful trees. Thank You for the gifts of music that You give to some of Your children and the way they fill our lives with songs of joy and lighten our loads. Thank You for the gifts of writing, of painting, of all the various arts that bring such color and warmth and vision into our world. And thank You for those gifted as organizers, as planners, as hard workers who accomplish so much and help things to run smoothly (and who think of all those details that never even cross the mind of folks like me). Thank You for those who make us laugh and those who give us wisdom and insight. Thank You for teachers. Thank You for leaders. Thank You for those who serve unselfishly. Thank You for the gifts of introverts and extroverts and everyone else in-between. All different, all God-given, all prized by the Sovereign Creator.
Thank You, in other words, for making us different and loving us all equally and extravagantly--even with our weaknesses and warts and blind spots. Help us to see others as You see them and to love as You love. You have gifted each of us in unique ways and for the purpose of blessing others and glorifying You. Help us to stop looking at other's gifts with either envy or disdain or discouragement... but rather enable us to see with hearts of gratitude and wonder. And help us to be thankful for however You have gifted us... and then get busy using those gifts to Your glory. For our weaknesses and failings, we pray and trust Your mercy and grace. For our gifts, we say thanks and pray: use us, Lord.
And thank You for weddings and celebrations of Your goodness and greatness! To God be the glory.
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