This past October, our daughter got married, which naturally changed the dynamics of our immediate family — we stretched to extend love to another son. He is a wonderful young man, tenderly devoted to Jesus and our daughter.
The wedding planning was not anything I’d imagined when thinking about our daughter getting married. To be honest, I never thought I’d have to share this special time with anyone other than my precious one. She’s made her home in Tyler, Texas, for close to seven years now. Finding her soulmate in the same town, they secured plans.
With friends that have become family and a vibrant, growing, close-knit church community, getting married there felt right. While I was not with her in person to help, we kept in touch numerous times a day, discussing options and making decisions. She made sure I was in the thick of things, even from afar.
Engaged in January, October was here before we knew it.
For months, we’d prayed for safety (flights and driving) for all travelers, everyone to stay healthy, good weather for the wedding day and connecting without issue with rentals and Airbnb’s for those staying with families. God answered every prayer to perfection. Two mamas standing up with my daughter had babies under a year old — who came with their parents.
Flying into Dallas, we had prearranged a rental car. The contract had stated we needed to use the shuttle to pick up our car from the rental company. This was a huge blessing as we were concerned about getting out of the Dallas/Fort-Worth Airport. With its complicated maze of roads and various terminals, it — to us unseasoned traveling farmers from Leopolis — was daunting to say the least. The shuttle took care of that for us.
Getting our rental, we put our Airbnb address into the GPS. What on earth did we ever do before GPS? It took us right to our front door. Settling in, the weekend flew.
Wedding day dawned sunny and windless, with temps in the mid 70s. This was so God as the very day before there was a tornado warning. We were unaccustomed to hot and humid temperatures in the 90s in October. An outdoor wedding had been planned and the weather fit the bill perfectly. Watching my husband walk our beautiful daughter down the long aisle beneath a cloudless sky moved me to tears. We were so incredibly happy for her.
In addition to the meal prayer, my husband was also asked to give a little talk before dinner. He was reluctant to speak in front of a crowd of people. Many told him later it was the best father-of-the-bride speech they’d ever heard. His kneecaps were knocking, but he did it.
My daughter and son-in-law’s wedding focused on God and His love for them. There were numerous scriptures read. Their minister knew both of them well and he made the service personal. Jesus was the guest of honor, starting with the wedding itself and throughout the evening. After the festivities, guests gathered outside and were handed three-foot-long sparklers. The couple made their way down to their car in the midst of well-wishers waving them off with sparklers lit, smiles and cheers to a long and beautiful life.
This Christmas, the newlyweds were unable to come home, which means for the first time in 30 years our daughter will not be walking downstairs Christmas morning. Church on Christmas Eve followed by pizza and a movie, enjoying coffee in Santa mugs, throwing balled up wrapping paper at her brothers, shopping and decorating beforehand with her dad — all the little traditions we held dear that made Christmas special in our family for years — won’t include her. While I knew this was coming, a blanket of sadness has settled atop the tinsel and tree lights.
What I’m grateful for is the mind-blowing fact that our Father God had this foresight and plan of redemption in place for all of us from before the creation of the world. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will.” (Ephesians 1:3-5, New International Version)
Jesus left the glory and majesty of heaven to come to earth as a baby, born in a manger no less.
Because of my passion for farming, I resonate so much with this meager scene. I know what cows smell like and while it’s not unpleasant, it’s no place for a baby. He came unassumingly into the world so as to relate to everyone, even stinky shepherds.
So while I’m sad for me without our sweet daughter here this year, I still rejoice in the fact that Jesus is always with me and God has a plan and a purpose for my life and yours. Because of that, we can be filled with joy this Christmas, no matter what.
(“An angel of the Lord appeared to them (shepherds) and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.’” Luke 2:9-10, NIV)
Kay Reminger was born and raised on a dairy farm, and she married her high school sweetheart, who happened to farm for a living in Leopolis. Writing for quite a few years, she remains focused on the blessings of living the ups and downs of rural life from a farm wife’s perspective.
