Chapter 32
Cole
I sink into a seat in the last row of chairs with a sigh of relief. I made it. Sure, sprinting from four blocks over to get here wasn’t my ideal method of arrival, but apparently when you invite 100 people to a residential space, parking becomes an issue. Still, the smile on Lydia’s face when she saw me made it all worth it.
My eyes seek her out again, and I see her adjusting Jamie’s train from her spot beneath the oak tree. She looks stunning in a bright red floor-length dress, her hair swept up in a wavy chignon that sits low on her neck. I have an urge to take her in my arms and pull her hair free so I can run my fingers through it as I kiss her.
“I have had the honor of watching the love between these two unfold,” the pastor’s voice breaks through my thoughts, and I regretfully refocus my attention on the ceremony. “In fact, I was there the first time they met.” He gives a little laugh. “Hoping to meet some new people, they’d both signed up to be a part of our church’s coed softball league. They each showed up to that first Tuesday night practice with bright smiles on their faces. But it wasn’t love at first sight.” Another laugh, this one accompanied by the titters of those in the audience who must already know the story. “As it turns out, both Jamie and Luke both wanted to be our team’s pitcher. As the captain I suggested we do a little contest to see who was the stronger pitcher. Each got to pitch for the same five batters and whoever struck more players out would pitch in the first game. Unfortunately for Luke, he’d never had to slow pitch before, and let’s just say he didn’t exactly take to it. Jamie won the contest hands down.” Another smattering of laughs.
“Luke was a gracious enough loser, but then came that first game.” He shook his head in mock reproach. “These two played completely out of synch with one another, to the point where Jamie marched over to Luke and demanded that he stop sabotaging the team by missing all of the balls she’d been throwing to him. He in turn informed her that he was playing first base, not five feet away from first base, so maybe she should work on her aim. By the end of the game, they were both fuming.” He chuckled again.
“Jamie got in her car and drove off only to find herself stranded a mile down the road thanks to a problem with her battery. And that was where Luke found her when he left the park a few minutes after her. Despite the sour way they’d left things, Luke stopped his car and got out to help Jamie. He jumped her car, then insisted on following her home to make sure she didn’t have any more problems. To thank him, Jamie invited him in for a glass of lemonade and well, as they say, the rest is history.
“Now some of you may be wondering why I told you this little story, or meet-cute as my wife would say, and I’ll tell you why. You may think anyone would’ve done what Luke did when he stopped to help Jamie. After all, if you see someone you know stranded on the side of the road, it’s only natural that you would want to help. But the part of the story I didn’t tell you was that Luke had an audition that afternoon to play at the Holland summer music series. That’s right, while Luke is a theology teacher by day, he is a drummer by night.” More chuckles from the guests.
“When he made the decision to not only stop to help Jamie, but also to see her home safely, he gave up that opportunity. He sacrificed one of his own desires for her good.” The pastor pauses, allowing the words to sink in.
“And that, dear friends, is why I told you this story, because marriage is built around sacrifices like this. Namely, the husband’s willingness to love his wife well through his actions, and a wife’s willingness to respect her husband through her actions. Jesus gave us a model for marriage in his relationship with the church as a whole. He modeled unconditional love for his church by sacrificing himself on the cross and in turn asks us, his church, to trust in him.”
As the pastor continues talking, now gesturing between Luke and Jamie, I realize with a start that I’ve been listening so intently to his words, that I’ve inadvertently moved to the edge of my seat. Feeling foolish, I slide myself back until my shoulders brush the tulle attached to my seat. Still, his words echo in my mind. He sacrificed one of his own desires for her good.
I’m not sure why these words are standing out to me, but they leave me feeling restless, as if I haven’t done something I should’ve done. Again, my eyes find Lydia. She’s dabbing at her eyes with a tissue, but beaming at Jamie and Luke at the same time. I wonder if she really believes everything this pastor is saying. If so, our marriage must be even more of a disappointment than I thought.
The pastor announces that Luke may kiss his bride, and everyone around me erupts in cheers. I join in even though I’m still feeling unsettled. I want to be a good husband to Lydia . The thought strikes my heart, and I have to swallow against the lump of emotion that forms in my throat. I’ve never cried at a wedding before. Who would’ve thought my first time would be at the wedding of a woman who yelled at me for having peanut butter in my kitchen?