“Father of the Bride”

 

The word is out and it seems that I have passed muster as “father of the bride.” Such personal parental pride probably doesn't belong in the newsletter, but sometimes pride wins out, and to be honest, Nancy and I are very proud of our daughter Rebecca and her husband Ryan Strand, and we are very thankful to have been part of their wonderful wedding day on June 19th.

As I write this they are concluding their honeymoon in Florida. We are deeply grateful for God's wonderful blessings in this new beginning for them, and, in a way for us all. And we are thankful for your prayers and good wishes, and for your patience too, if we show our pictures too often or talk a little too much.

Here we see clearly how God is in the midst of life. So often we hear inspiring stories about how God, in His mercy, brought relief from suffering, or helped us in some time of need. Those stories are important. We do need to share them.

At the same time, however, I feel it is important to remember that God is with us in our joys and in the best times of our lives. It is those times when we, sadly, are most likely to forget that God is with us and “working all things to the good for those who love Him,” as St. Paul reminds us in Romans.

Let us remember and not forget that God is with us in our joys and times of blessing as well as in our times of sorrow and brokenness. So, as we watch with pride as our children grow up, and as we reflect on the goodness of our lives, we rejoice with the Psalmist who wrote: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.”

Yours, proud and thankful to God for all of you,