The Wedding Day

We had planned for almost a year. Our beautiful daughter had always wanted an outdoor wedding.  So the first thing we did once they had narrowed the window for the wedding date, was check the Farmers Almanac to see when it had rained the last time on that date.  We decided on April 9th because it hadn't rained on that day in 26 years.  The odds were in our favor! 

A week before the wedding, everything was in place.  We'd picked a beautiful county club with a patio for the wedding and a ballroom for the reception.  Behind the carpet of green stood the stark mountains so typical of those found in the Arizona desert.  We just knew that it would be a beautiful sunny day April 9th.  When my daughter called to say that rain was predicted for the following Saturday, I wasn't too worried.  When you live in the desert, you hear a lot of weather reports that predict rain, most of which end up being inaccurate.  I told her not to worry. 

As the day got closer the percentage for the chance of showers went up; but I just couldn't believe that it would actually rain.  However, when Friday night arrived and we gathered for the Rehearsal, it was down right cold.  I began to wonder if rain was reality for Wedding Day.  I realized that we had a choice, we could either be upset and ruin the day, or we could be happy have fun and celebrate.  We chose the latter.

It didn't rain during the ceremony; but it did before and after.  Chairs were set up on the patio under the awning.  Almost 200 people gathered, looking out at the lush green.  The clouds were visibly moving, and the moutains were touched with grey haze.  The seats closest to the heaters were the most popular.  When the bride turned the corner to head up the aisle, the crowd that had gathered audibly gasp.  She was so beautiful; and her dad so proud.  As we listened and watched, a flock of birds flew back and forth across one corner of the golf course.  At dusk, the fountain behind the couple lit up.  And then the ceremony was over. 

Ten minutes into the reception, the rain and cold was forgotten.  It was time to eat and dance. 

Rain. After 26 years of no rain.  There had to be a lesson in this.  After much pondering, I've come to this conclusion: It was a strong reminder from God of a few things.

First of all, He's in control - not the weathermen, not me. not the Farmers' Almanac, not even history. That's a good thing. He knows some much more than we do what is in our best interest, even when it makes no sense to us.  

Secondly,  in life we have a choice.  When the skies are cloudy and it "rains on our parade," we can either be happy with what we have or be upset about circumstances beyond our control.  Especially in marriage, that is a HUGE lesson if learned early can mean a better life.   I pray that how Will and Rach started - smiling inspite of the rain - will be how they spend their years together.  Because they are human, there will be difficult times.  However, I trust that God will bring to mind their wedding day and how wonderful it was, rain and all. 

On the way to the wedding, a friend of mine saw the brightest rainbow she had ever seen.  It was so bright, she made her husband pull over so she could take a picture of it.  God sent the rainbow as His message of hope to His people many years ago.  There it was again for a young couple starting their life together.

I thanked one of the servers for helping us make the wedding celebration all it could be.  She said, "So many families get upset and angry when it rains.  But you all didn't, you had a great time and were happy.  I think that's great." 

"Hey," I responded, "It's Wedding Day, what's a little rain."  I was so grateful for her words. We chose to be a blessing and were blessed.  With the rain came a lifelong reminder that while God is in control, He lets us choose whether we follow in His character or get sidetracked with anger and negativity.