So I say to you, “If you knew the blessed God, and who it is that is offered to you-the sweetest love, the richest mercy, the surest friend, the chiefest good, the greatest beauty, the highest honor, and the fullest happiness… You would be more willing to leave these frothy joys and drossy delights for the enjoyment of God than any prisoner was ever willing to leave the misery of jail for the liberty, pleasures, and preferment of a court.”
-George Swinnock, The Fading of the Flesh and the Flourishing of the Soul
I attended two bridal showers last Saturday. Funny thing was, I didn’t even know I was at the one until I got to the other. Then these dull eyes started to make sense of what I’d seen.
Because you’ve got to have no sight at all to miss a bride making ready for her big day.
Bridal Showers
One shower was bigger, with dozens of cousins and aunts and friends. The other was just three sisters, until along came me.
One shower had a table spread big with buffet of sandwiches and salads and mixed nuts and cake. The other was not so broad- some sips of soup and applesauce. Both showered refreshment on the guests. Both tables amply laid.
At one shower, the bride-to-be was getting vases and sheets and picture-less picture frames. The other was giving vases and quilts and pictures in their frames away. Both had a devoted sister beside her, noting each gift opened or given away.
At one shower, the bride is counting down-38 days and 18 hours-before she’s given away. The other bride knows not the day nor the hour. She suspects she knows the season and content to leave the precise timing to her bridegroom.
She says, His timing is always best.
Preparing For Their Big Days
Both brides are picking playlists for their celebration days. Both select from among the special songs that marked their relationships along the way. One bride might play
I’ve Got You. The other, for sure,
Trust and Obey.
Both brides are clearing clutter. One bride has far less than the other. Both sort through unneeded things from their single days. Both go deep into closets and drawers to throw old clippings and awards and cards and notes away.
Both brides can talk a blue streak about her beloved. Both smile and look just a little bit smitten when each says, in so many words how she knows his love. Both brides describe- in a word- their husband, their betrothed, as faithful every day.
Both brides will relocate upon their wedding days. One will move across the country to her groom’s new medical school. The other will go a little further than Philly. Both might miss some folks, but they say they’re not afraid to go away.
I’m dense sometimes. I don’t always see through God’s signs to the truth that is behind. But even I couldn’t miss the message of the brides after the shower last Saturday.
And Grandma Did A Fist Pump
It is possible for your dying day to be your wedding day…for then the fairest of ten thousand and your soul will be solemnly knit together.
-George Swinnock, The Fading of the Flesh and the Flourishing of the Soul
Two weeks ago we found out Grandma’s cancer had came back. This time it was more painful-incurable pancreatic. We don’t know just how long. And how I wanted to visit while Grandma still felt, her word, perky.
So I headed up Friday night, clueless about her shower. The second one Saturday, for lovely cousin Hannah, that one I knew about. You can see how the surprise was all on me when I walked in to find the three. Grandma with her sisters were gathered around the table writing lists and making plans and setting up the service.
What’s the oldest blessing in the Bible? they asked me. Aaron’s, I think, at the end of Numbers chapter six. Grandma’s sister read it.
That’s it, Grandma declared. Now, write that down so you don’t forget.
Here where Grandma fist-pumped and said so joyfully,
That’s me! I’m sealed for the Day of Redemption, for Jesus. Oh, I’m so glad He loves me!
Revel A Minute
A Puritan named George Swinnock lived 350 years ago and he would have fist pumped, too. Because what Grandma knows, Swinnock knew- that when outside is fading, the inward can be renewed. And that the abundant life Jesus gives only starts with our short as dew, fading like wildflower lives on God’s green earth.
We can know this too. We-me and you, church, the body of Christ, his betrothed bride-we aren’t unaware.
So revel here a minute with Swinnock and Grandma and me.
Come forth; behold your beloved in all His glory. His arms are stretched out to embrace you. His lips are ready to kiss you. Oh, what a loving look He gives you! I am certain that you have a greater place in His heart than you have in your own…Your beloved will entertain you with precious and costly feast at His own table…If you accept this offer, it will be life for you to think of death. You will lift up your head with joy when the day of your redemptions draws near. (Swinnock, p. 76-77)
Saints know where their portions lay. Grandma’s portion showed through at her shower on Friday night. I saw Grandma’s affections are getting more set on Christ, her true husband, and that this world is gently easing out of her, so it’ll be easier to say good-bye.
For now Grandma’s showering us all-her beautiful Connemara Girl and woolen Sunbonnet girls, her hand-sown quilts and beloved hymnals, even her dear Dutch art-her Delft blue and windmills and tulips. She’s giving it all away.
And she’s sealed and dressed in fine linen and fist-pumping awaiting one glorious redemption day.
Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;
it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
Revelation 19:6-8
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Eloquently written! I love the comparison format, and I spent the first half thinking I knew where you were headed after reading your introduction in the email about your grandma. I was right. She's a different kind of bride than one that matches our earthly definition, but meeting the Lord will be even more exciting than an earthly wedding. She sounds like a beautiful lady! My grandma lived to be 98; Adelyn is named after her. Her legacy lives on as I'm sure your grandma's will, too.
Abby this is beautiful! You leave me crying with a full mix of emotions in the middle of class 🙂 I love this.
Thank you, Jackie. Sometimes the likenesses are just hanging, ripe for our picking. God be exalted!
Yes, what a blessing to have the legacy of godly grandmas.
Thank you,Heidi. Grateful it struck a chord in you, as you are so close to both beautiful brides.
Abi, this is lovely. Just lovely. what a blessing she is to you and you are to her.
Thanks, Rach! (I hope I am. I know she is.)