Maid of Honor Speech

This blog post will be a little different. A few weeks ago, my one and only sister got married, and at the rehearsal dinner I had the privilege of being able to share some of what that means to me. For those of you who are interested, here is the speech I gave:

"It’s hard to believe my older sister is now a twenty-two-year-old college graduate and on this day, a bride. I have vivid memories of the two of us in our childhood playing with a doll set, standing the plastic figures up underneath a fake wedding arch, and pushing the heart-shaped button that sounded the familiar tune of “here comes the bride.” It was all fun and games then. Marriage seemed so far away, like a life event that neither of us would ever get to. It felt as if we were in a sea of infinite childhood.

But the truth is, time beats on, and whether we like it or not, we’re constantly being pushed forward with it. And personally, sometimes I find myself struggling with that reality. Sometimes I feel like something has been lost, that that bottle of mine and my sister’s childhood leaked out somewhere and now we have to face the real world of work, finances, and independence.

But the joyful thing is, today we celebrate that change is good. That even in the stress-inducing times of change and “adulting” and new places, there is beauty and there is deep blessing.

Hannah, on this day that maybe I wish could’ve been delayed just a little bit longer, I want to remind both you and myself of the truth that is radical enough to take away all fears: You are not alone.

I mean this on three accounts. First of all, we’re still your family. Even though you’re moving to Jackson, Mississippi, a place where you know literally no one, you are always in our thoughts and prayers and your little sister is just a phone call away. And beyond your immediate family, just look around this room. You have a support system of people who love you and Austin and are praying for you.

Secondly, you are starting out on this new journey with a man who loves you deeply and promises to never leave your side. Every morning from here on out, you will say good morning to your best friend, and every evening you will say goodnight to him again. The two of you today become one in marriage and that means a lifetime of having someone to lean on.

But on an infinitely more significant level, the two of you are in Christ. Hannah, today you become a wife in an earthly marital relationship, but your union with Christ is so much truer, more intimate, and more secure. While time beats on, while one day you and Austin will be separated by death, your marriage to Christ is eternal.

So, I guess I say this to myself as much as to my sister, let time beat on. Don’t push it, but just let it be. Security is not in possessing time for yourself but in embracing its fleetingness. So Hannah, enjoy each day with Austin. Do mundane things together regularly and delight in them. And make a lot of crazy memories too. In all things, trust Austin and lean on him. But most importantly, trust God and look forward to His plans. I’m not talking about looking forward to next month or two years from now or to any arbitrary time period. I’m talking about looking forward to what’s to come in another world. This is not our home, and earthly marriages, as precious as they are, are not ultimate. Look forward to the ultimate time when your fears will subside and your heart will be as full as it can possibly be. Look forward to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

And now, a closing passage of Scripture. This is the Word of the Lord from Revelation 19:6-9.

6 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.

7 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;

8 it was granted her to clothe herself

with fine linen, bright and pure”—

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

9 And the angel said[a] to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

Here ends the reading of the Word of the Lord.

Hannah, I love you."