My daughter is getting married this weekend. We have relatives coming from all over to gather together to celebrate this joyous occasion. Never mind all the arguments, discussions and disagreements on how this joyous occasion should proceed or look because it is here! If grandma were here, she would say, the most important thing is you love each other.
We have some aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, grandparents, and friends all driving, flying and arriving from different directions. It will be a full house here and so noisy and happy. My grandma would say, it will be fun but make sure you take turns in the bathroom!
We have spent hours cleaning, de-cluttering, cleaning and dusting. Our house is as good as it gets. We have prepared ourselves for 4 days of fun! My grandma would say, Anna! How long has it been since you cleaned!
I was listening to my husband’s toast over the last few days. He is worried about it being too long. He spoke of us gathering together because of my daughter and her fiancé. We are people from two different families meeting to celebrate these two individuals officially becoming a couple and their own family. My grandma would say that they are full of love and dreams and promise. God will bless them.
In Hebrews 12 it speaks of us being surrounded by a cloud of witnesses. I think that not all of those witnesses are the great ones mentioned in Hebrews, like Moses, Abraham and Elijah. I think some of those witnesses who gather to celebrate the moments of our lives are our families that have gone before us, like my grandma.
Once during the time before my grandpa died, he saw his momma and poppa coming to greet him with Jesus. He called out to them. They were gathering for a celebration. One of their family was coming home to heaven and they were gathering together to meet him. My mom said to grandma, he is calling you. And grandma said, no, he is calling to his momma and his poppa.
I want to be less concerned with this life, the getting or being or the “right” thing to do and more concerned about what the witnesses think. I want to do what God has for me to do. I want to listen to him and obey him. I want to spend time with him in prayer and in bible study. Grandma would say, so do it!
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
