RETROSPECT ON MARRIAGE
flowed then instead of on her wedding night, for even tears of joy might be misunderstood and we wanted noth ing to mar the happiness of that occa sion. I have heard so many mothers say they hardly remember anything about the wedding of their daughter, but somehow God gave me an alert ness, a physical and emotional stabil ity that I knew was not mine, and I enjoyed even every tiny blossom of the beautiful flowers, so lovingly put there for our dear one’s wedding. Dr. Thomas, as I sat there in those beautiful surroundings, sacredness was felt in the soft glow of the pink candlelight, and I thanked God for you and yours and for what you have meant to us through these years. God has used you in the lives of each one of us more than you will ever know and only eternity will reveal. I prayed that God would use you for many, many years to bring the mes sage of salvation to many hearts and encouragement to your own flock. Your message from God so lovingly delivered to our Linda and John were words I’ll never forget, and my earn est prayer is that hearts may have been touched to begin a change in their lives. I have come through this wonder ful experience with a deep conviction. We make many plans for the wedding of a loved one, and much preparation is necessary if it is to glorify God, each one needing to fill a special place to make it successful. But how much more important it is for the Church to stand together, each one in har mony with the other and right with God that we may truly be prepared as the bride of Christ to meet the Bridegroom. Howard and I and family share in these thoughts and are eternally grateful to God for you and to you.
in his truck with him; for she was his boy. Then with regret I remember get ting her and Diane ready for “ Cunny Cool” to go with a neighbor. (I regret not taking them myself.) One day the Lord spoke to this mother’s heart, and she came from her backslidden condition into a right relationship with God. Soon it was, I saw Linda go down the aisle to accept Christ as her Saviour for as she said, “Mother, I am a sinner and I need Jesus to wash my sins away.” It was such a blessing to know that her eternity was secure in the arms of Jesus. Then we saw her develop into a lovely young woman and saw her walk alone many times because of her con victions. John came into her life, their friendship blossomed into love, and they became engaged, for we had prayed and they had prayed, “ God’s will be done.” I saw her graduate looking so lovely in her white cap and gown. After graduation, she and I prayed one morning about the matter of get ting a job, one where God wanted her to be. He placed her that very day where she is now employed and finds herself on a mission field where she witnesses to her fellow-workers—one girl is from Iceland, others are from Japan, Norway, Denmark, and China, besides representatives from our own wonderful land of America. They confide in Linda, and she has an op portunity to speak out for Christ. I questioned my tears as I stood looking at her in her wedding dress and realized they were tears of pure joy. So thankful to God for His sav ing and keeping power; for Linda’s sweetness, purity, and sincerity are because of His grace and are kept by His love. We take no credit to our selves, but we praise Him and give Him glory for guiding us as parents. I was so- grateful that the tears
E d it o r ’ s n o t e : The follow ing letter was received by a pastor following the privilege he had of performing the wedding ceremony o f the writer’s daughter. The minister, Dr. William C. Thomas, pastor of the First Baptist Church of West Los Angeles, was kind enough to share this personal corres pondence with our KING’S BUSI NESS readers. Amid a society where one out of every four American marriages ends in divorce, this testi mony of domestic tranquility is truly a trophy of God’s grace! Dear Dr. Thomas: As I walked down the hall just now, Linda’s wedding dress peeked at me from its hanger. Spread across her bed is the beautiful crown and veil she wore only a few short evenings ago. I felt constrained to write to you. I’ll never forget how my emotions played tricks on me when I first saw Linda in her wedding grown. I wasn’t prepared for the tears that started flowing down my cheeks. It was al most like seeing her for the very first time when the nurse put this helpless and adorable baby girl in my arms. She was so tiny, and we were so thankful to have another perfect daughter and sister for Diane. Then I saw her on her tricycle, saw her fall down and come running to mommy to kiss the hurt. I saw her develop asthma and bravely cope with it through the years. Then all over again I saw her curly head as she turned her back and walked down the street on her first day of school, ahead of her sister—so big. I saw her determination develop as she said,' “ M y will do it!” We watched a lov ing sister relationship develop, and we remember (from early years) how mother and daughters would go out for lunch; her special treat—a ham burger, of course. I saw again, her being a real pal to her daddy, riding
Love in him, Lucille Warth
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THE KING 'S BUSINESS
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