Who Gives This Woman?

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement

Oops. Our Granddaughter’s wedding was so delightful I missed the post-the-blog day. Better late than never?

Who Gives This Woman?

            I remember sitting in the front row at the marriage of our precious daughter and thinking. Have I taught her everything she needs to know? I knew I hadn’t. I couldn’t because I had no idea what her life would entail. I could only hope I had conveyed some principles that would equip her for whatever life tossed at her.

“Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” Ah, the significance of that simple question. Although it is omitted from some marriage ceremonies, it is a significant reminder to the parents of the couple getting married. They are giving up some aspects of their role in the life of a treasured child.

The newly wedded couple will form a new unit that will be a blend of their distinct personalities and values.  Their marriage will NOT be a complete duplicate of either of their parent’s marriages. It behooves parents to keep this day of giving up in mind during all the child rearing years.

When we give a child to marry, we are thankful that  our heavenly Father knows what life will bombard them with although we don’t. He knows what they need and a wedding is a perfect time for parents to mentally turn over their children to God, the master quilter of their lives. He is trustworthy and cares more perfectly about our children than we frail parents can. It’s safe to give our children over to him and to make that transfer long before we need to give them into a marriage. God’s love is all encompassing, perfect. and always available. If we succeed in teaching our children to cling to the love of God, we have taught them what they need to know and when we “give them away” at a wedding, we are simply confirming publically the dominance we have endeavored to give God over our child from the day of their birth.