The Moral of the Story -- Cindy Trane Christeson
“I am but a pencil in God’s hand.”
-- Mother Teresa
Our oldest daughter, Kelly, was married last week to an amazing young
man named Ryan. Those two fine young people have already had such
positive and powerful impact on others; I can only imagine what God has
planned for them and their marriage.
Many people have referred to Kelly and Ryan’s union as a match made in
heaven, which it clearly is. The entire wedding weekend was kissed with
special blessings from God, and several people summed it up well by
saying it was magical.
It’s hard to believe it all happened, as if it was too good to be
true. I know it did, of course. I was there. I’ve seen the pictures and I
will see the video. There is no way I can adequately describe all that
transpired, but God more than answered the many prayers that were
offered. God’s hand was clearly evident in everything.
Throughout the weekend, family and friends shared stories of many
different ways they could see God’s hand in both Kelly’s and Ryan’s
lives. As we reminisced about both of them, I thought back to last
December when Ryan took my husband Jon out for breakfast and asked his
permission to ask for Kelly’s hand in marriage.
Jon thanked him for the honor of being asked, but said, “Ryan, you’ve
already won her heart and proven your character. You are the answer to
our prayers, and you are God’s man for Kelly. You have our blessing.”
After Ryan’s beautiful proposal to Kelly and Kelly’s excited
acceptance, Ryan placed a stunning engagement ring on her finger. I found
myself staring at that finger and her hands frequently over the course of
their engagement. If I close my eyes, I can still see her hands at all
her different ages.
I’ve watched those beautiful hands grow over the years. I can still
see Kelly’s little hands covered with felt pen, with paint or with play
dough. I can picture them at different times, with ski mittens, Easter
gloves, cotillion gloves and even a splint due to a broken finger. Those
fingers have worn puppets, finger-paints, stickers, Band-Aids, reminder
notes and occasionally different colored nail polish, especially before
school sporting events.
Kelly’s hands have accomplished much and have been covered with many
different things, but they had never before been adorned with an
engagement ring.
At the ceremony, when Jon walked Kelly down the aisle and took his arm
off Kelly and placed her arm onto Ryan’s, he entrusted our treasure to
the man who committed to love her till death parts them. As they said
their vows to each other, they pledged their love, their lives and their
marriage to God.
Jon and I caught our breath and held hands as we watched the beaming
young couple place wedding rings on each other’s fingers. After the
ceremony, I watched the glowing twosome as they held hands and greeted
guests. When the time came for them to depart, they held hands and
practically skipped off into night to start their new life together.
I am eternally grateful to God for his incredible blessings. I also
prayerfully place all our lives into his trustworthy hands.
And you can quote me on that.
* CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks
frequently to parenting groups. She may be reached via e-mail at o7
cindy@onthegrow.comf7 or through the mail at P.O. Box 6140-No. 505,
Newport Beach, CA 92658.
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