A shower

A few weeks ago I was asked to give a devotion at the bridal shower for the daughter of a dear friend, who herself is a friend of mine! There is some magical age when daughters of friends become your own friends and she is there already!
Anyway, I didn't have much time to think it through - it was a busy week at school and at home.... lots going on and less than 48 hours to think. I thought about the wedding at Cana and how Jesus turned water into wine. Yes, it was His coming out party, but it was also so that the bride and groom would not be embarrassed. Also, in doing this, He was stating that there was a new age now present. Heaven and earth would now be joined - purification water was now celebratory drink for a wedding. He used a wedding to announce this! This wedding now had new significance. There was much more going on, as well, but I wanted to focus on this last point.
As I sat at the luncheon preceding this sharing time, however, I was increasingly uncomfortable thinking about this devotional. So when it was time to sit together in the lovely garden setting on a beautiful SoCal Spring Saturday afternoon, my remarks were brief. I spoke about the importance of forgiveness.
I said that wives must forgive whether or not they have been asked. They must learn to live in an attitude of forgiveness. Just as importantly, a wife must quickly ask for forgiveness. She must confess her wrong attitudes, harsh words, disgusted looks, silent moods.
Forgiveness keeps love alive. Forgiveness gets the crap out of the way and lets love flourish. It is true between husbands and wives. It is true between us and God.
Forgive one another.
I said it to the bride-to-be and to myself.