Encouragement From Today's Youth

For those of you dads out there (Woody--don't know if you're still around, but I think you might like this):

IT IS POSSIBLE TO SAVE YOUR FIRST KISS FOR YOUR WEDDING DAY!

Granted, it is NOT an easy thing, but Patrick and I began seeing each other in late April of last year (we did the whole courtship thing where he asked my dad and had serious intentions from the start), and we have been engaged almost seven months. If we can just get through tomorrow without kissing (), then it will truly be OUR FIRST KISS. Yes, it will be announced as such. When asked if I wanted that I said, "You'd better! Good grief! If I'm waiting all this time, then people had BETTER know or else it won't be worth it." My parents have always wanted me to save my first kiss (this is my first kiss first kiss) for my wedding day, and this was one way for me to honor them.

Whenever I get discouraged about today's youth you always give me hope.

Now this young couple was standing in front of the congregation entering into the marriage covenant, led in the ceremony by Jennifer’s dad, Steve. Their kiss, after Steve pronounced them husband and wife, was their first kiss. They had waited until that time.

It was a holy moment and tears ran down my cheeks. Holy, because it was before the body of Christ, faithfully ministered to by Village Missionaries over the years, and specifically by Jennifer’s parents, Steve and Lisa, since 1995. Holy, because godly parents had raised them both in homes where Christ was preeminent. Holy, because both were obeying God’s call to serve as Village Missionaries. Holy, because both had waited upon God with trust and perseverance. Holy, because we in the congregation powerfully glimpsed how much God cares about our individual lives, how much He cares about His church, how much He cares about marriage as the picture of His church, and yes, how much He cares about calling young couples to the great task of keeping country churches alive.