Tuesday, May 29, 2012

In His Eyes

I don't really know why, but today I was remembering the day that I attended the renewing of wedding vows for friends of ours who had been married thirty years. First of all, thirty years is a long, long time to share a life with one person. In light of the state of our present world, dare I say that what we witnessed that day was nothing short of a miracle? God's grace was on glorious display right before our very eyes! 

What I want to write about today is the groom. Bride-zilla would have us believe that wedding days and vow renewals are all about her, but I was so taken with that groom. So was the lady sitting behind me. We were anxious to see my friend, and how she would look when she walked down the aisle. But we both agreed that there is nothing like watching the face of a groom when he first lays eyes on his bride walking through the door.

It was like watching a tennis match. Glance at the door. Glance at the groom. Glance at the bride of thirty years coming down the aisle. Glance at the groom again. Oh, we were not disappointed! We saw the sweetest smile come across his face when he caught a glimpse of his wife in the doorway. That smile gave way to eyes that sparkled with just the slightest hint of tears. He whispered something into the pastor's ear. How I wish I knew what he said.

Maybe he said that she looked even more beautiful today than she did all those years ago. Maybe he whispered that he'd do it all again. Maybe he said that he wouldn't have missed her for the world. 

Did you know that every time Jesus Christ, your Bridegroom, looks at you, He thinks those same things? He remembers where you were, and exactly what you looked like, the day He found you. He remembers the day that you made your vow to follow Him forever. He thinks that you are infinitely more beautiful today than you were all those years ago. You are a beautiful bride, radiant with His Holy Spirit.

He has no regrets about choosing you. He'd do it all over again in a hot second. For better or worse. For richer or poorer. In sickness and in health. Through laughter and tears. From eternity past, until death, and in eternity beyond. He would choose you over and over again. 

Every time He sees you coming to spend time with Him, each time He hears your voice, in each moment of joy when you praise Him, and in each dark night, full of tears, His eyes are fixed on you. You are His beloved Bride, and He grins from ear to ear. His eyes well up and sparkle with tears of joy over you. In His eyes, you are the most beautiful sight He's ever seen.

He turns and whispers to His Father, "I wouldn't have missed her for the world."



 

47 comments:

  1. Beautiful, just beautiful! I am celebrating 9 years of marriage with my husband whom I adore so much this August. I thank God for him each and every day. And every time we attend a wedding, I feel as though we are renewing our vows to each other by being there, supporting our friends or family who are getting married. {visiting from Just Write}

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  2. Oh, wow!!!! This was just so beautiful today. For someone who is single, I just wrapped myself up in this. Thank you so very much! Where have I been??? This is my first time here and I feel I've missed so much! You were next to me on the Link up and that's what brought me by! I will definitely be back again. Thank you.

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  3. This is way beyond beautiful, bless you.

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  4. Beautiful Donna, so grateful you shared with us over at Workin' It Mondays! I love how we can delight in Him and how He loves us - and has loved us from before we were formed :)

    Blessings,
    Nicole
    Working Kansas Homemaker (.com)

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  5. That's great! I was just at a wedding this past weekend, and you're right -- that groom's expression is good! Also, you talk about God remembering the day He found me, but I also remember (and soften slightly) when I remember the day He found me. That is a treasured memory!

    Thanks for linking up with me!

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  6. Thanks. I know I think of all of that occasionally... how He thinks of me, how He loves me, how He is so happy that I turned to Him when He was doing everything He could to draw me near ... but mostly I just see Him as a Daddy Who will hold me [rarely happened to me as a child]and cuddle me OR I see myself as a servant, just want to clean up messes and bless Him. You turned my heart that other direction with your lovely example from watching your friends. Thank you.

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  7. Thank you for sharing your awesome story At Tell Me a True Story. I too would have been watching the bridgroom. After 30 years, YES she is still the ONE.

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  8. Quote: "...Did you know that every time Jesus Christ, your Bridegroom, looks at you, He thinks those same things? He remembers where you were, and exactly what you looked like, the day He found you. He remembers the day that you made your vow to follow Him forever. He thinks that you are infinitely more beautiful today than you were all those years ago. You are a beautiful bride, radiant with His Holy Spirit..."

    This is so encouraging... thank you!

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  9. So beautiful! What a wonderful reminder! I often wonder if my husband would do it again? (he was a long time bachelor when we got married). Thank you for reminding me that God is my bridegroom and He would do it all over again! Stoppin by from the link up :) http://simplyhelpinghim.blogspot.com/

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  10. Coming over from iFellowship. My parents just celebrated 38 years. I'm so thankful for such an amazing example.

    Thanks,
    Mary Beth
    newlifesteward.com

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  11. Thank you for such a beautiful message it certainly blessed me this morning.

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  12. smiles...i was just telling someone the othr day the story of our wedding day and how i had tears when the door finally opened and i saw her...big smiles...and yes He feels all the more i am sure...

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  13. Donna, just joined your blog. Loved your post. My husband and I renewed our wedding vows at our 15 yr annivesary. When we first got married we didn't know Jesus. So Jesus was not welcome at that time. So when we bacame followers of Christ we brought our marriage before Him. Because He is the center of our marriage, home, children, work, our all. God Bless you friend.

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  14. What a great post! Visiting from GMG Wednesday link up!

    http://lawyergirlruns86.blogspot.com/2012/05/women-in-word-wednesday-2012-summer_30.html

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  15. love this...wonderful picture and a great reminder....My husband and I have been married 31 yrs...our relationship is deeper and better than every before...we communicate with out words...silence is sweet...just like how we grow in being with the BRIDEGROOM. blessings to you~

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  16. What a wonderful reminder of how Jesus sees each one of us. And yes, I remember the day and how he found me in my mess, I will never forget!
    Ps. 30:11-12 What a glorious day!
    Great post!
    Julie

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  17. This was beautiful. I love thinking of my bridegroom as watching for me and being thrilled to see me at the door. Thank you for this. It made my day.

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  18. I need to look at the face of the groom sometime. I'm always watching for the bride. GREAT reminder here.

    Thank you for linking up with God-Bumps & God-Incidences at www.GettingDownWithJesus.com

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  19. Absolutely beautiful! I love the picture of Christ looking upon us as beautiful.

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  20. What a beautiful post!! I also love to watch the groom. Your post really hammers the point that He is always there for us and He chose us!!! So exciting!! I also realize that I need to spend more time looking for Him and His face than on my own daily selfishness.

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  21. This was so sweet. A great reminder that God is always there! thanks for linking with Thankful Thursday!

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  22. Coming over to visit from Thankful Thursday. This was very beautiful. Thank you for the reminder of how much Our Lord loves and treasures us. Thank you also, for having me remember the look on my husband's face when he saw me coming down the aisle. Although, it will be 16 years in August, I will remember his sweet smile and tears in his eyes forever. Many blessings, Lisa

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  23. LOVE this: "He has no regrets about choosing you."! So true...he chose us first...his word tells us that!

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  24. Such a great analogy and such a sweet story. Thanks so much for sharing it and brightening my day. And thanks for linking up to Bless and Be Blessed at Bible Love Notes. I pray you have a blessed week.

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  25. What a moving post! Moving me to tears. Beautiful picture of Christ's Bridegroom love. Thank you.

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  26. Wow what a great post! My husband and I have been married almost 20 years and I can still remember the look on his face and the glisten of tears in his eyes as I walked down the aisle.... But I have never thought about Jesus seeing me this way. Thank you....for my own tears in my eyes!
    Hopped from BB&B

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  27. This is so sweet! It brings back memories of my wedding. Love it! (Visiting from Lost In the Prairies....)

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  28. Oh what manner of love is this...
    Simply beautiful and a poignant reminder of God's unfailing love.
    Bless you
    Julie in Scotland

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  29. Ps please may I use this post on my blog? I would like to start a Friday favourite and I would love to use this post along with a link to your blog.
    In Him
    Julie

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    Replies
    1. Yes, Julie, you may use it. I'd be honored. :)

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    2. Thank you Donna! Bless you.
      Julie

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  30. its perfect that I read this today, it's our anniversary! Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop. xo

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  31. Donna, I love watching the groom. When I got married I made sure my husband was involved in every decsion about the wedding. Too many people focus on the wedding instead of the marriage. Wedding is one day and the marriage is forever. Thanks for linking up with the randomness this week.

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  32. Visiting from Barbie's. What a wonderful post. Thank you for reminding me... He sees me. Loves me. Not only loves me, He likes what He sees...

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  33. beautiful picture of God's love for us! thank you for sharing!!!!

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  34. Love love love this! What a picture of Christ's love for us! Tears in my eyes....

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  35. Donna...a beautiful picture here! Love the way you reminded me of how joy-filled the Lord was (and still is!) of receiving me as His daughter. Thank you for the encouragement and for sharing this at WJIM.

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  36. Wow, great analogy. Thank you for this insight.
    Blessings,
    Charlotte

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  37. I just found you via Monday Mingle. It sounds like I need to stick around! I became your 100th follower. :)

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  38. Thank you for sharing with us at NOBH. Please link up again. I love how you pulled the story of the groom to our heavenly Groom. Great insight. May God bless you.

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  39. Hey there! Love your blog! I found you via the MMM blog hop and just added myself to your followers! Also I wanted to invite you to come enter a fabulous Steve Madden giveaway I'm having right now!!
    Hope to see you there! And thanks so much lady!
    Emily

    http://emilymmeyers.blogspot.com/2012/06/steve-madden-giveaway.html

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  40. This is fantastic. I found you from the two are better linkup and so glad I did. Im going to add myself to your followers, loved the reminder that we are so looked after by our Father and Creator.

    Patty from www.fanta4two.com

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  41. Your post is very encouraging.

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