The best part of any wedding is watching the ring bearer and flower girl. These kids have the potential to take an event that requires months of planning, and the investment of thousands of dollars, and turn it into sheer chaos.
No matter how well-behaved a child is under normal circumstances, all bets are off once you cut them loose down the aisle. They may do something absolutely adorable or cause an embarrassing scene.
For those of us who are not their parents, or are getting married that day, it’s the most entertaining part of the ceremony. Sure, the bride is radiant, and the preacher’s message is inspiring, but it’s the antics of the kids we’ll all be talking about for years to come.
For those of us who are not their parents, or are getting married that day, it’s the most entertaining part of the ceremony. Sure, the bride is radiant, and the preacher’s message is inspiring, but it’s the antics of the kids we’ll all be talking about for years to come.
In an effort to better understand this, I completed a thoroughly unscientific survey of funny wedding videos on YouTube and noticed that all children in wedding parties are pretty much the same. In fact, you can classify most of their behavior into one of six distinct categories. I’ve assigned a famous movie title to each one just to help you remember them.
1. “Happy Feet”
These ring bearers and flower girls are a joy to behold. They are loving life and milking their wedding spotlight for all it’s worth. They’re smiling, dancing, exuberant and are a bundle of fun.
2. “Chariots of Fire”
While these little ones also may be happy, they are mostly just fast. They have places to go and people to see and consequently sprint down the aisle like they’re trying to qualify for the Olympics.
3. “Dazed and Confused”
Some kids clearly have no idea why they’re even there. If their parents gave them instructions, they’ve long since forgotten or just don’t care. They either freeze up, wander aimlessly or stop and talk to people in the crowd.
4. “Mad Max”
These children clearly do not want to be anywhere near this wedding. Brows furrowed, bottom lips out, they are like a brooding storm about to break loose. Sure, they get the job done, but they don’t have to like it.
5. “Scream”
These kids are in total meltdown mode. Whether they’re hungry, sleepy or resenting having to wear itchy clothing, they let everyone know it by wailing at the top of their lungs.
6. “Sleeping Beauty”
Weddings are exhausting, and these kids show it. Whether they’re snoozing while being pulled down the aisle in a wagon or are like the ring bearer who stops midway to nap out on his ring pillow, they’re just too tired to care.
Not only do children like these provide us with plenty of wedding entertainment, it’s also great having them in the wedding because it gives the bride and groom a preview of what to expect from married life.
Those of you who have already tied the knot know exactly what I mean.
Some days in your marriage you and your spouse may put on your happy feet, and everything is great, while other days you’re both just running and too busy to even talk to each other. Other times you may find yourself dazed and confused because you do not know how to relate to this person who sees the world so differently than you do.
Some days in your marriage you and your spouse may put on your happy feet, and everything is great, while other days you’re both just running and too busy to even talk to each other. Other times you may find yourself dazed and confused because you do not know how to relate to this person who sees the world so differently than you do. That can lead to the sullen anger Mad Max and eventually to a good old-fashioned scream. And then, of course, some days, you’re in Sleeping Beauty mode, when you’re both just too tired to care.
But the whole point of marriage is committing to love and serve each other through all of that, and by doing so, to show the world a love that can only come from God. Believe me, after 26 years of marriage, there have been many times you cannot explain my wife’s patience with me outside of miraculous intervention.
Of course, this goes beyond the marriage relationship. A follower of Jesus named Paul once wrote, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10 NIV). That’s not just great advice for marriage, but great advice for life.
It’s easy to love our friends and family on their Happy Feet days. But when they are busy, tired, angry or in full meltdown mode? Well, that’s a different story.
It’s easy to love our friends and family on their Happy Feet days. But when they are busy, tired, angry or in full meltdown mode? Well, that’s a different story. Commitment and devotion through all the ups and downs of life is a special thing, and if you want more of it in your life, the best place to start is in understanding God’s love for you.
The Bible teaches that God loves us and is committed to our greatest good no matter what. It doesn’t matter where we’ve been or what we’ve done or how much we act like a child, God never gives up on us or runs away. When we open our hearts to being loved, it empowers us to love others in the same way. •
Photo credit: LD Prod / shutterstock.com
Jason Byerly is a writer, pastor, husband and dad who loves the quirky surprises God sends his way every day. You can read more from Jason in his books Tales from the Leaf Pile and Holiday Road. You can catch up with Jason on his blog at www.jasonbyerly.com.
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