Today is my oldest son’s wedding anniversary. As memories of that day flash through my mind, much like a series of snapshots, one second there and the next one gone, I once again find myself in the middle of many reminiscences. Happiness and tears, nervousness and calm, seeing old friends I hadn’t seen in years—it’s all so wonderful to think back on—even those things that happened that were of the unexpected.
Nine years ago the day before, it was scorching hot. My daughter, a camp counselor, was in charge of a group of kids with asthma. Making sure they were hydrated, she forgot to take care of herself. Ending up in the ER with a good case of heat stroke, she, who was also one of the bridesmaids, and I missed the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner, arriving home a little before midnight. Still very ill—getting two IVs of fluid at the hospital—I was awakened by her at 2 a.m. thinking she might need to go back. Deciding she didn’t though, both of us fell fitfully back into unconsciousness only to be startled from deep sleep at 4:30 by our frantically barking miniature schnauzer and the hilarious picture of my youngest son in t-shirt and boxers standing at the front door, announcing with much irritation, “Your SISTER is here.”
I happen to be one of those people who sees the humor in just about everything. Standing at the top of the stairs, bleary-eyed and looking at the sleeping bodies of groomsman who had arrived a couple of hours earlier from the bachelor party, littered on sofa and floor, I started to chuckle. That whole scene was just too funny and somehow I knew it was one I would remember ever so fondly the rest of my life.
Long story short. My sister’s early arrival reservation that was missed by the exhausted hotel clerk, which caused her to land on my front steps, was eventually sorted out ending with a long-awaited hotel room for her and her family. Everyone at the house, dog included, went happily back to bed. Later that day, John and Julie were blissfully wed. And from our end, minus a couple of groomsmen who got lost for an hour on the way to the reception, the rest of the celebration went off pretty much without a hitch. A very happy time to be had by all.
Sammie, the miniature schnauzer
And it truly was—even with those moments that were not so easy. When our family gets together and we think back on that day, we still laugh. Those memories have become one of the sweet ties that binds our hearts closer together in love.
Maybe, that’s one reason why the Lord tells us to “give thanks in everything, for this is His will for us.” (See 1 Thessalonians 5:18.) Because He knows that even in those pressing times, if we see them as something ultimately for our good, we can look past the immediate, finding the hidden joy.
Wishing for you much love and laughter,
Kimberly
Kimberly is the author of the children’s chapter book Mr. Zip and The Capital Z.
