Beautiful Picture: Prayer Before a Wedding

Since we’re in the middle of wedding season, now seems a good time to post this picture, which apparently caused a sensation when it first appeared online a few months ago. This blog post, by the bride, explains the story behind it: she and her groom holding hands in prayer moments before their wedding, trying not to catch a glimpse of each other before the ceremony:

Right around the corner sat my soon to be husband, I so was nervous he might see me yet secretly hoping to catch a glimpse of him. In my excited state I was the first to speak,

“Hi sweetie! We’re getting married today!”

“I know baby and I want to pray with you before we do.”

There we sat around the corner hand in hand, and together we bowed our heads. People were rushing about; the wedding coordinator directing people here and there, the photographers snapping photos and the bridal party enjoying each others company. Yet in that moment, in the quietness of our hearts and minds, my husband and I were alone in the presence of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

My husband prayed that God would bless our marriage, that through thick or thin together we would never lose hope in one another. That instead of focusing on each others imperfections we would always rely on Christ’s perfection. That we would wake up every day and chose to love one another not through our own strength but by the power of Christ’s perfect love.

With our hands clenched tightly to one another together we said “Amen”, both with shaky voice and just like that I was whisked away to blot the tears off my face and put on my veil.

Read it all.  Share it with anyone you know who is about to get married, thinking of getting married, or even marking a wedding anniversary.

A couple weeks ago, my wife and I celebrated our 27th anniversary.  We went to a steakhouse for dinner and the young waitress congratulated us.  “What’s your secret?,” she asked as she handed us our menus.  “Patience,” I replied, smiling.  My wife quickly added, “And prayer.”

Yep. That about sums it up.  The recipe for a successful marriage: patience and prayer.  (And not necessarily in that order.)