Orange Scrubs
I love weddings. I always have. Even as a little girl I remember how beautiful the bride looked and how I would wish that one day I would wear one of those princess dresses and look as beautiful.
It wasn't until I became a bride myself that I realized that it wasn't the dress that made the bride look like a fairy tale princess, it was the radiance that emanated from within. It was the hope and dreams that swelled up inside and overflowed into a smile that would be very difficult to wipe from her face.
Last night, I had the privilege to attend the wedding of a good friend's daughter. Her daughter was radiant. Her teeth gleamed as the smile she wore from ear to ear could not be contained. Her dress, although magnificent in it's beauty did not compare with the beauty this new bride wore without apology at her reception. The bride's dark hair gleamed as it hung down around her shoulders, the tiara that sat upon her head seemed fitting since a true princess always possesses a crown.
Lovingly and tenderly the bride danced with her father; her mother looking on with tears streaming down her face, also unapologetic for the pride and hope she held in her heart for her daughter. I can only imagine the thoughts the mother of the bride must have had as she watched her daughter dance with her father. Was she thinking of the many times when the bride was an infant and the dance the two of them shared was one where the little girl squealed in delight as her father tossed her in the air only to catch her and shower her with tiny kisses over her tiny face? Was it the dance that he shared with his daughter at other weddings when his young girl would stand on the tops of his shoes and he would dance effortlessly carrying her across the dance floor? Or, was it the dance of the years that she witnessed as her daughter and her husband grew up and bonded. I'm sure it was a mixture of all of those things, each flying in and out of her head; each bringing a bigger and brighter smile, although filled with tears, to the beautiful mother of the bride. Yes, the radiance that the mother of the bride exudes is second only to the bride herself.
As I sat and watched the exchange of the well wishers, the family, and all that desired to partake in this matrimonial celebration and wish the couple well as they begin a new life together, I couldn't help but think of my youngest daughter who may very well never be able to have such a celebration with her significant other. To be honest, a celebration of this type may even lead to protesting and violence.
I suspect that any celebration that my youngest would have would be a private affair with only family and extremely close friends in attendance. Will she look as radiant as the above bride? Absolutely! Especially since that beauty is from deep inside the soul and takes the place of any flaw, real or perceived that may haunt the bride. Will I look as radiant as the bride of the mother? Without a doubt I will. The pride I have for my daughter is more than words can express; the honesty that exists between her and I is rare among parents and children. My hopes and dreams for her will be the same of any mother for her daughter on her wedding day. My husband will dance proudly with the daughter he has raised into a productive member of society and a woman worthy of all the honors bestowed upon a new bride. I imagine he will bend down to kiss her cheek and hold her tight with tears welling in his eyes for the daughter who is about to embark upon a journey that is not fully understood by him; but nonetheless just as sacred.
Who knows, maybe by the time my 25 year old daughter is ready to take the permanent plunge into the reality that is marriage, the union will be more than just a civil union, but recognized as one born of love and commitment just as any that is between a man and a woman. Perhaps marriage will be thought of as the union between two hearts as opposed to being thought that a marriage can only be honored if it is between 2 people of different sexes.
It wasn't until I became a bride myself that I realized that it wasn't the dress that made the bride look like a fairy tale princess, it was the radiance that emanated from within. It was the hope and dreams that swelled up inside and overflowed into a smile that would be very difficult to wipe from her face.
Last night, I had the privilege to attend the wedding of a good friend's daughter. Her daughter was radiant. Her teeth gleamed as the smile she wore from ear to ear could not be contained. Her dress, although magnificent in it's beauty did not compare with the beauty this new bride wore without apology at her reception. The bride's dark hair gleamed as it hung down around her shoulders, the tiara that sat upon her head seemed fitting since a true princess always possesses a crown.
Lovingly and tenderly the bride danced with her father; her mother looking on with tears streaming down her face, also unapologetic for the pride and hope she held in her heart for her daughter. I can only imagine the thoughts the mother of the bride must have had as she watched her daughter dance with her father. Was she thinking of the many times when the bride was an infant and the dance the two of them shared was one where the little girl squealed in delight as her father tossed her in the air only to catch her and shower her with tiny kisses over her tiny face? Was it the dance that he shared with his daughter at other weddings when his young girl would stand on the tops of his shoes and he would dance effortlessly carrying her across the dance floor? Or, was it the dance of the years that she witnessed as her daughter and her husband grew up and bonded. I'm sure it was a mixture of all of those things, each flying in and out of her head; each bringing a bigger and brighter smile, although filled with tears, to the beautiful mother of the bride. Yes, the radiance that the mother of the bride exudes is second only to the bride herself.
As I sat and watched the exchange of the well wishers, the family, and all that desired to partake in this matrimonial celebration and wish the couple well as they begin a new life together, I couldn't help but think of my youngest daughter who may very well never be able to have such a celebration with her significant other. To be honest, a celebration of this type may even lead to protesting and violence.
I suspect that any celebration that my youngest would have would be a private affair with only family and extremely close friends in attendance. Will she look as radiant as the above bride? Absolutely! Especially since that beauty is from deep inside the soul and takes the place of any flaw, real or perceived that may haunt the bride. Will I look as radiant as the bride of the mother? Without a doubt I will. The pride I have for my daughter is more than words can express; the honesty that exists between her and I is rare among parents and children. My hopes and dreams for her will be the same of any mother for her daughter on her wedding day. My husband will dance proudly with the daughter he has raised into a productive member of society and a woman worthy of all the honors bestowed upon a new bride. I imagine he will bend down to kiss her cheek and hold her tight with tears welling in his eyes for the daughter who is about to embark upon a journey that is not fully understood by him; but nonetheless just as sacred.
Who knows, maybe by the time my 25 year old daughter is ready to take the permanent plunge into the reality that is marriage, the union will be more than just a civil union, but recognized as one born of love and commitment just as any that is between a man and a woman. Perhaps marriage will be thought of as the union between two hearts as opposed to being thought that a marriage can only be honored if it is between 2 people of different sexes.
3 comments:
Thank You my friend we were honored to have you want to share our joy. When you have the chance to see the same joy,expectation and hope in your daughter's face I hope I will be graced with the privalige of being there ; whether private or public. Love and comittment is a celebration to be shared with family and friends. I am lucky to count you amoung mine.
Be Well
Well there's always California!
I understand what you are saying, as my youngest is getting married, she's straight.
I think of my oldest daughter who is gay, and how her marriage will be some day.
I think these two posts point out an amazing simlarity. There is a firm distinction between legal and emotional committment.
Just as infidelity is hard to define, so is "marriage". Yes, we have the "legal" view; to me, much more important is the commttment involved. A legal piece of paper doesn't make a marriage.
I know there are legal issues involved that muddy the waters. Wish I had an easy answer for that one...
Post a Comment