I'm Too Young to be a Mother-in-Law!
Where has time gone? Wasn't it only yesterday that I, myself, walked down the long isle of the church, my father at my side; my mother sitting in the front row, eyes glistening, smiling so tenderly. It was October 11, 1980.
Saturday, May 14, 2005 - just ten days ago, I sat on the front pew of First Baptist Church and turned to watch as the bridesmaids elegantly made their way to the front of the sanctuary to meet the grooomsmen. There was a brief pause in the music and then the organ, in all it's magesty and splendor, rang out the regal tones of the Wedding March. I rose with the rest of the congregation and saw her framed in the stone arch of the door way, her dad at her side. She took my breath away and my eyes involuntarily welled with tears and my heart swelled with a rush of emotion. Oh, the many thoughts that danced across my mind in those momnets it took she and her dad to travel the isle of the church to meet her anxious groom. My mind went back nearly 25 years to my Mom, in her front row seat at my own wedding. Did she have some of the same thoughts I did?
I looked at Sarah as she continued by her dad's side, and thought, "She'll always be Daddy's little girl. She will always have her place in our hearts. It has only expanded to include this handsome young man who has captured her heart and given to us the son we never had but always wished for."
The entire days was wonderful! I tried to process it in slow motion, drinking in every detail; knowing that much of it would seem like a blur just hours later. And it did! But I can still see her face as she walked the isle, holdinging her dad's arm. I can see the tender, nervous, adoring look on her groom's face and still smile as I recall the several premature attempts he made to come down off the platform and receive her from his soon to be father-in-law. His dad, who was also his best man, reached out and held the back if his suit jacket to keep him in place until the appropriate time. It was cute. It showed just how eagar he was to take this woman to be his wife. I can still hear the clarion tones of her voice ring sweetly throughout the sanctuary as she sang to her groom, "Arise my love, and come away". Ah, she not only looks like her dad but has been gifted with a voice - pure and rich and calm like his. I can still hear the resolve in both their voices as they pledged to love and cherich each other, letting nothing but death seperate them. I can still see the look of joy as they exchanged their first kiss as husband and wife and the excitement on their faces and spring in their step as they left the church to greet awaiting family and friends. I can still see them as they entered the recpetion site. The words to a pop song blasted out in youthful fashion, "She is beautiful! She is beautiful!" And she was. I can still see her dancing her first dance with her husband; see the dreams in her eyes. I can still see her dad and she as they glided across the dance floor oblivious to anyone else. He was whispering to her. She was crying. A teneder moment meant only for them. A letting go and a final holding on. I can still see the happy couple as they left the house and headed for their bridal suite to enjoy their first night together as husband and wife. My heart held so much happiness and hope for them. These pictures will remain etched on my mind and heart forever. Anything else that happened that day - the glitches and oversights - they don't really matter.
The newlyweds would come back to the house the next day, joined by family to open gifts. Things would be forever different and yet not that different at all. For she will always be our "Sis" and home will always be here for them and nothing could ever change our love for her and time is quickly expanding the place this new son holds in our hearts. They will always have our support. We will remain their most loyal cheerleaders! We will always welcome them home and delight in their phone calls. We we celebrate their accomplishments and comfort them in their disappointments. We will joyfully remain their parents, while recognising they are their own family now, as well. And our role will take on new dimensions.
Twenty-five years from now, if she finds herself blogging about her own daughter's wedding, I pray their love will be deeper that they ever dreamed it could be just ten short days ago. As they look back over the years that took them to this event, and remember the joys and sorrows, the tirals and tirumphs that marked the path to this season in their lives, I hope they expereince the pride and happienss we have as we have wathced our daughter marry her Prince Charming. I am blessed beyond measure to have my handsome prince still at my side and to be the mother of two extremely beautiful and gifted young ladies! I wish for the happy, new couple, a double portion of the blessings we, their parents have enjoyed in our twenty five years together.
"Hold tight to each other and to the Lord, and remember, we will always be here for you!"
Saturday, May 14, 2005 - just ten days ago, I sat on the front pew of First Baptist Church and turned to watch as the bridesmaids elegantly made their way to the front of the sanctuary to meet the grooomsmen. There was a brief pause in the music and then the organ, in all it's magesty and splendor, rang out the regal tones of the Wedding March. I rose with the rest of the congregation and saw her framed in the stone arch of the door way, her dad at her side. She took my breath away and my eyes involuntarily welled with tears and my heart swelled with a rush of emotion. Oh, the many thoughts that danced across my mind in those momnets it took she and her dad to travel the isle of the church to meet her anxious groom. My mind went back nearly 25 years to my Mom, in her front row seat at my own wedding. Did she have some of the same thoughts I did?
I looked at Sarah as she continued by her dad's side, and thought, "She'll always be Daddy's little girl. She will always have her place in our hearts. It has only expanded to include this handsome young man who has captured her heart and given to us the son we never had but always wished for."
The entire days was wonderful! I tried to process it in slow motion, drinking in every detail; knowing that much of it would seem like a blur just hours later. And it did! But I can still see her face as she walked the isle, holdinging her dad's arm. I can see the tender, nervous, adoring look on her groom's face and still smile as I recall the several premature attempts he made to come down off the platform and receive her from his soon to be father-in-law. His dad, who was also his best man, reached out and held the back if his suit jacket to keep him in place until the appropriate time. It was cute. It showed just how eagar he was to take this woman to be his wife. I can still hear the clarion tones of her voice ring sweetly throughout the sanctuary as she sang to her groom, "Arise my love, and come away". Ah, she not only looks like her dad but has been gifted with a voice - pure and rich and calm like his. I can still hear the resolve in both their voices as they pledged to love and cherich each other, letting nothing but death seperate them. I can still see the look of joy as they exchanged their first kiss as husband and wife and the excitement on their faces and spring in their step as they left the church to greet awaiting family and friends. I can still see them as they entered the recpetion site. The words to a pop song blasted out in youthful fashion, "She is beautiful! She is beautiful!" And she was. I can still see her dancing her first dance with her husband; see the dreams in her eyes. I can still see her dad and she as they glided across the dance floor oblivious to anyone else. He was whispering to her. She was crying. A teneder moment meant only for them. A letting go and a final holding on. I can still see the happy couple as they left the house and headed for their bridal suite to enjoy their first night together as husband and wife. My heart held so much happiness and hope for them. These pictures will remain etched on my mind and heart forever. Anything else that happened that day - the glitches and oversights - they don't really matter.
The newlyweds would come back to the house the next day, joined by family to open gifts. Things would be forever different and yet not that different at all. For she will always be our "Sis" and home will always be here for them and nothing could ever change our love for her and time is quickly expanding the place this new son holds in our hearts. They will always have our support. We will remain their most loyal cheerleaders! We will always welcome them home and delight in their phone calls. We we celebrate their accomplishments and comfort them in their disappointments. We will joyfully remain their parents, while recognising they are their own family now, as well. And our role will take on new dimensions.
Twenty-five years from now, if she finds herself blogging about her own daughter's wedding, I pray their love will be deeper that they ever dreamed it could be just ten short days ago. As they look back over the years that took them to this event, and remember the joys and sorrows, the tirals and tirumphs that marked the path to this season in their lives, I hope they expereince the pride and happienss we have as we have wathced our daughter marry her Prince Charming. I am blessed beyond measure to have my handsome prince still at my side and to be the mother of two extremely beautiful and gifted young ladies! I wish for the happy, new couple, a double portion of the blessings we, their parents have enjoyed in our twenty five years together.
"Hold tight to each other and to the Lord, and remember, we will always be here for you!"
posted by Rosalie @ 5:25 PM
2 Comments:
At 5:37 PM,
Charlesb said…
Rosalie:
I am sure that you will be the best Mother-in-law, your love is so strong, how could it be any other.
I repeat, if God gave me the right to choose another real daughter from this world, it would be you.
At 12:46 PM,
Atlantic Guy said…
A charming and delightful read, Hon.
I love you,
Your Prince Charming!
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