Just One Kiss Away

Last weekend we had the wonderful experience of attending our niece’s wedding. In fact, they had even asked me to recite a poem as part of the service. The real purpose of today’s entry is to share that poem and make it available for the family. However, I would also like to take this opportunity to explain why this particular poem came so easily to me and why it was such a pleasure to compose. James and Danielle, the bride and groom, are both mature young people who share a strong and saving faith in Christ. I believe with all my heart that such a foundation is the only sure thing to build a life upon. They also come to their nuptials without the inordinate quantities of relational baggage so many folks seem to begin with, but they also engaged in extensive pre-marital counseling just to make sure they knew exactly what they were getting into together. Their relationship is built upon a lifetime of wise choices that will serve them well throughout the years to come. James and Danielle are just the kind of people who give you hope for the future and rarely have I walked out of a church feeling better about a couple or their prospects.

So this is for James and Danielle. We wish you all the best for your life together and the brightest future imaginable. May your marriage serve as a beacon of light and love to others for all of your years to come.

Best Wishes,
From Uncle Frank

Just One Kiss Away
James and Danielle, what a pleasure it is
To stand up here with you today
And to have observed as God drew you together
In His own remarkable way
You have known each other for such a long time
Yet God in His infinite wisdom knew
That though you were destined to be together
He wasn’t quite finished with either of you
So He sent you both into exile
To let you grow and mature apart
While He put the finishing touches
On each of you and readied your hearts
Then, in God’s perfect timing
He brought you back home once more
To the old, familiar neighborhood
Where you had known one another before
And where you rediscovered each other
In the light that maturity brings
Kindling a whirlwind romance
That soon grew into a beautiful thing
It didn’t take you long to determine
That your love was meant to be
And that the Lord had brought you together
To be joined in matrimony
Which brings us to this afternoon
As we have gathered together here
Before the Lord, your friends and family
And all of the people whom you hold dear
To celebrate all that God has done
And witness the vows that you
Are making to one another today
As you begin your lives together anew
May you honor each other always
Strive to live in an understanding way
Speaking the truth in love and grace
Willing ever to kneel and pray
May you be patient, kind and forgiving
Through the inevitable struggles and trials
Learning to trust one another completely
And trusting in God all the while
And may the Lord’s hand of blessing
Rest upon you throughout the years
While you face the adventure of life together
That lies just down the aisle from here
As you go rest assured that you carry
Our fondest hopes, prayers and wishes today
Into your happily ever after
Which is now just one kiss away
By Frank Carpenter ©