I just got back from my trip to California. I went out there for a family wedding. Had a wonderful time of fellowship and reuniting with family. There's a joke in my family that we don't take vacations or trips, we just go to fa'alavelave's. Those are our vacations. Perhaps it's true of your family as well. Anyways, these get togethers always end up being mini reunions. Time to catch up with family members from far and wide. This occasion was no different. These are also memorable for things that happened during the events. Someone will get lost driving the UHAUL with all the fine mats, or someone gets a little carried away at a bachelor party or bridal shower. Always makes for fond memories at the next gathering.
My dad conducted the ceremony at the wedding this past weekend. It was a pretty big wedding for close to 500 guests. It was held outdoors on the seashore overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The setting was priceless. The flowers were beautiful. Even the music was inspiring. A picture perfect wedding, if I may say so myself. There were also moments of levity. The PA system didn't work, so the old man had to almost scream to be heard. And if you've done any kind of public speaking, you know the speaking loudly throws off your rhythm, your natural speaking cadence. To top it off, it was close to 90 degrees out doors and the old man had a heavy gown on. To say he was battling the elements is an understatement. The old man has a terrible memory. As far back as I can remember, he has a really bad memory. Sometimes he'd forget names of his grand kids. Forget nieces and nephews. At the end of the ceremony, when he was about to present the newlyweds, he said: "Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs. .....and there was a pause. He forgot the groom's last name. But he quickly recovered by saying Dennis, the groom's first name. LOL I've got to give him credit, because he was also against a time crunch. The ceremony had started about an hour late because some members of the wedding party arrived late. It turned out really nice though. Praise God.
Having a beautiful wedding is much different than having a beautiful marriage. The wedding's the easy part. The marriage is more difficult. It takes commitment, understanding and forgiveness. The old man said during his abbreviated meditation that you can't get something that you don't give away first. He told the couple, if you want love, give it away first. If you want compassion, give it away first. If you want humility, give it away first. If you want forgiveness, give it away first. He told them to base their family on the Godly love that Paul spoke about in Corinthians in his chapter on love. He said everything else fades. Beauty, charm, looks. All that's left is Godly love. Romantic love is also fickle. But Godly love sees you through sickness and health. Through richness and poverty. Through agreement and disagreement. And may I add, through fa'alavelave's. LOL Weddings are sometimes made in heaven, but marriages have to be worked out on earth.
My dad conducted the ceremony at the wedding this past weekend. It was a pretty big wedding for close to 500 guests. It was held outdoors on the seashore overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The setting was priceless. The flowers were beautiful. Even the music was inspiring. A picture perfect wedding, if I may say so myself. There were also moments of levity. The PA system didn't work, so the old man had to almost scream to be heard. And if you've done any kind of public speaking, you know the speaking loudly throws off your rhythm, your natural speaking cadence. To top it off, it was close to 90 degrees out doors and the old man had a heavy gown on. To say he was battling the elements is an understatement. The old man has a terrible memory. As far back as I can remember, he has a really bad memory. Sometimes he'd forget names of his grand kids. Forget nieces and nephews. At the end of the ceremony, when he was about to present the newlyweds, he said: "Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs. .....and there was a pause. He forgot the groom's last name. But he quickly recovered by saying Dennis, the groom's first name. LOL I've got to give him credit, because he was also against a time crunch. The ceremony had started about an hour late because some members of the wedding party arrived late. It turned out really nice though. Praise God.
Having a beautiful wedding is much different than having a beautiful marriage. The wedding's the easy part. The marriage is more difficult. It takes commitment, understanding and forgiveness. The old man said during his abbreviated meditation that you can't get something that you don't give away first. He told the couple, if you want love, give it away first. If you want compassion, give it away first. If you want humility, give it away first. If you want forgiveness, give it away first. He told them to base their family on the Godly love that Paul spoke about in Corinthians in his chapter on love. He said everything else fades. Beauty, charm, looks. All that's left is Godly love. Romantic love is also fickle. But Godly love sees you through sickness and health. Through richness and poverty. Through agreement and disagreement. And may I add, through fa'alavelave's. LOL Weddings are sometimes made in heaven, but marriages have to be worked out on earth.
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