“A happy heart makes the face cheerful." ~ Proverbs
15:13
It had been a magical wedding –
eloquent, yet simple and inexpensive.
But then again, they were an enchanting couple – confident; both
unpretentious and oh so humble.
Marc and Daryl tied the knot in her parent’s backyard near
NY’s Finger Lakes region. Everything was
modest, but gorgeous and filled with meaning.
Family and friends were mostly from the NYC area, so getting out
"into the country" was a treat in itself.
The ceremony took place on the back porch of an old farm
house turned B&B. A local bluegrass
band played up-tempo love songs in three-part harmony. Friends lent antique china sets, so that every
place setting was unique. Wildflowers
filled simple mason jars as centerpieces.
It was everything a wedding should be - a celebration of
love and family. Not a display of how much money you have and were willing to
spend, and how popular you are with a huge guest list. It was absolutely
perfect.
After the reception, Daryl waved to the crowd of
well-wishers as she strolled through the garden to the horse-drawn buggy that
would take them to a place where privacy and romance would define their new
life together. As Marc helped his new
bride into the carriage, a little boy approached him. His pace was deliberate; his smile endearing.
"Sir, what are you going to do with your flower?" At first Marc didn’t know what the lad was
talking about, but then he understood. "Do
you mean this?" pointing to the coral rose pinned to the lapel of his coat.
"Yes sir,” he said. “If you’re just going to throw it away, I’d
like to give it to my granny. I’ve been
living with her since my parents got divorced a few years ago. She’s been so good to me that I wanna give her
that pretty flower for loving me."
When the boy finished, Marc could hardly speak. His eyes filled with tears shed from the
depths of his soul. As he reached to
unpin his boutonniere, Daryl looked at the boy and said, "Son, that’s the
nicest thing I’ve ever heard. But you
can't have his flower - it's not enough.”
Looking down at her bridal bouquet of stunning wildflowers,
she extended them toward the adorable child.
She said with all the love that she felt on this, her special day: “Please
take these flowers to your granny instead, because she deserves the very best!"
After thanking them both, the boy curtsied before running
off with his cherished gift. He was
blessed by their kindness, and soon his granny would be too.
A freshly picked flower represents fleeting beauty and life,
and reminds us to live every moment before it’s gone. You can’t buy happiness . . . but you can
create it.
Lord
Jesus, help me to be cheerful when things go wrong; persevering when things are
difficult; serene when things are irritating; kind to those in difficulties;
and sympathetic to those whose hearts are sad. Amen
