One flesh

"From the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife,and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” Mark 10:6-9

There has been a lot of talk in our house about weddings, as our second oldest daughter, Ariel, is getting married in September. Most of the pieces of the wedding celebration are coming together quite well. Others, not so much. Yesterday I went to a very fancy store to try on some mother-of-the-bride dresses. I have chosen to step away from my normal role as celebrant of the wedding, and will revel in being with my husband in the pews. We often don't get a chance to sit together on Sundays or any other special occasion, like weddings. So this will be nice for us and I can cry if I want to (and I know I will). So, this fancy store I visited had some of the nastiest, ugliest, revolting excuses for a mother's dress. I know all our eyes are to be on the bride, but I didn't know my role came with the demand to look ridiculous. A clown costume would have been more becoming.

I got to thinking about Jesus and his admonition about marriage. How we are to come one flesh by the power of God. How weak and crazy we are so much of the time, and yet how willing God is to join us together and bless us together at all times. Marriage is not about money or looks or possessions, and it is surely not about the right clothes. Marriage is God's presence in the midst of relationships, which binds people together despite their best efforts to be shallow or cruel. God's love in our midst is always bringing healing and forgiveness, reconciliation and humor.

So, today, I want to give thanks for the love that has been given to me and blessed in my relationship to Mark and with our girls. And I wan to pray that for Ariel and Adam as they get ready to be married, and all folks who are in relationships or desperately needing relationships in which they find forgiveness and reconciliation, laughter, joy and healing at all times. For we all seek God's blessing in our midst and need it every hour of every day.