We attended Patrick (my brother in law) and Carla’s wedding yesterday.
It was awesome, elegant and God honoring.
Of course, my wife was a mess with tears pouring down her cheeks. Their “baby brother” just got married.
I’ve been to many weddings and officiated hundreds of them, but this one was extra special.
Not just because the groom was special to me since I’ve seen him grow up from being a boy to a mature young man, but because the way he honored Carla, his parents, his future in laws and most especially his Lord and Savior, Jesus.
You go to weddings and they easily become all about the couple.
While the wedding obviously highlighted Patrick and Carla, but more than that, God’s presence, faithfulness and grace was front and center.
I’d like to share with you Patrick’s vows to Carla.
This was one of the best I’ve heard coming from a groom.
Probably it was also because I had front row seats watching how God brought them to where they are now.
Indeed, God is faithful.
Dear Carla,
It’s been 32 years of searching, waiting and praying.
And finally the Lord answered my prayer.
I vividly remember the first time we met.
It was on aug 8, 2012.
You were wearing your grey shirt complimented by your beautifully tied hair.
Both of us were volunteering at the relief operations.
And little did I know that God was starting to align our paths.
But the process of our paths aligning did not come easy.
You know, honey, for 30 years, my life has been smooth and steady.
But the moment we got together, this steady and smooth life of mine became one stretching, challenging and faith building journey.
The odds were not in our favor.
You had fears. I had fears.
Doubts were starting to cloud our hopes.
Insecurities started to creep in, tricking us that this relationship will never work.
It seemed like it was a losing end.
You know, but I realized that loving you entails fighting for you.
I stood up against against my fears.
I battled all the doubts. And I boldly moved in faith to overcome my insecurities.
I guess that’s the price of winning a princess.
God is good.
By His grace, I was able to fight hard.
And that’s the reason why I am here standing in front of you today.
And just like in the letter that I was supposed to give to your mom and dad, in which there was a promise, I want to say it to you again and in front of all these people that are dear to us.
I promise to love you unconditionally … and to take care of you … to provide for you to the best of my God-given abilities… to always be there for you… and to always be a source of affirmation and encouragement to you and to our children …
And through these, I hope it will assure you that you made the best and right decision.
May this day remind us of God’s faithfulness and grace in our lives.
And that together, with Christ being in the center, we can do great and amazing things.
And Carla, from being a friend, to being my ex-girlfriend, to being my ex-fiance, now my wife, I promise to love you to the very end.
He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD. (Proverbs 18:22)
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If you’d like to hear the audio version of Patrick’s vow, I’ve included it below this post.
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