Today could be summed up in one word- thankful. Words cannot convey how thankful I am for the countless hours my family has put into making Caleb and my wedding day so special. My aunt and uncle have come over to help me craft, my younger brother and his friends (who have grown to become part of our family and are now also my younger ‘brothers’) have spent hours making our cake stand and signs, friends from the office have helped me with countless printing projects, aunts and uncles have sent us goodies for guests, my grandmother went to dress fittings/crafted/baked with my mother and I, and my parents… oh where do I even begin on how much they have done? Not only have they spent hours planning but they have also been such a wonderful example over the years of what it looks like to love the Lord in and through your marriage- their example is why I set my standards so high. Oh, and did I mention that I am marrying the most wonderful man I have ever met? I am so thankful for Caleb’s parents who raised him to be such a God fearing and loving man. Yes, I am blessed. And so very thankful. (There are so many other people that deserve thanks and credit, but at the moment these few are standing out to me.)
As the wedding approaches my heart beats a little bit faster and I am all the more eager for it to arrive. While I have heard that most brides get anxious about wedding details before the big day arrives, I am more anxious about the after details- the finances, job hours… the more mundane, everyday details. I cannot wait for Caleb and I to be financially independent from our parents and for us to work together as a team. But I would be lying if I said that I was not nervous about finances.
Three weeks after getting married we will begin an 8 month inductive Bible study that will count as credit towards our graduate degrees. Needless to say, we will be busy. But earlier this week my younger brother Cameron and I were talking about life, God’s plans for our lives, the future and topics such as finances. The moment I uttered fear about Caleb and my finances my brother instantly directed my attention to Matthew 6. At that moment I was beyond thankful for my brother. The Lord used him to speak truth to me. Instantly my anxious heart was calmed. (Side note- My brother Cameron is such a stud. I cannot wait to see how the Lord will use him in his future. That boy will do great things. I could not be more proud!)
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:25-34
