Anticipation... A bride and groom, a father’s message to a daughter, an audience of well-wishers. For twenty-five years, Mike Washburn thought of what he would say this day to his daughter, the bride, and it was clear with the first three blessings he gave her:

• The Blessing of God Reigning in Your Home
• The Blessing of Love
• The Blessing of Fighting Fair

    Mike’s thoughts about fighting fair are realistic for marriage and a perfect transition into his fourth blessing: The Blessing of Forgiveness.

“In your relationship to Christ you have experienced the sweetness of forgiveness. You have learned to trust in forgiveness without presuming it...let this be the same in your relationship. May you always rush to forgiveness; both in offering it and seeking it.”

    This reminded me of a saying of one older and wiser than myself, “Lean on each other’s strengths; forgive each other’s weaknesses.” We have all experienced forgiveness and nothing gives joy and mending like the giving and receiving of it in marriage.

    The outpouring of joy is expressed in the fifth blessing: The Blessing of Laughter. Mike read from Proverbs, starting with chapter 15 and the last part of verse 15, “...the cheerful heart has a continual feast.” He skipped over to chapter 17 and read the first part of verse 22, “A cheerful heart is good medicine.” Realistically, times will get tough and there will be times full of tension in marriage. So, what is the best relief-valve in times like these; humor. Couples need to laugh together.

    Together is the perfect word to lead into the sixth blessing: The Blessing of Parental Support Without Meddling. Not long after we read about how earth was created in Genesis, we learn how marriage should be. In Genesis 2 verse 24, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” Mike said “This gives two directives, one to the couple and one to the parents:

1. The couple must leave and cleave,
2. The parents must support the couple in this.”

For twenty-five years, Mike Washburn thought of what he would say this day...

    This means parents must let go, and let God shape this union. This is faith once again being tested. Parents can make this process easy or difficult. Mike made a pledge from the parents, to the young couple, “Our pledge to you is support without strings attached.” Wouldn’t this be a wonderful blessing if more parents would not try to use guilt or money to manipulate marriages?

    With all of these rich blessings, there was one final blessing: The Blessing of Going the Distance. “There will be many times when it will be easy to quit in your marriage. A lot of couples do.” This brings heartaches and problems not to just two, but a whole community. There are tough financial times, disappointments, job pressures, shattered expectations, extended sickness, problems with children; these are just a few examples of the hurdles in marriage. I once heard it said, “Don’t pray for an easy life, but for strength from God to face whatever life brings. It is a lot more realistic.” Challenges can help people grow closer together or grow farther apart; it is a decision you have to make. Joy increases when you grow old together and you look back and realize how God and your spouse have helped you get through the struggles. Mike said it this way; “I pray that you have strength to last and a lasting strength.”

    Mike and I would like to offer these seven blessings to you and your marriage; nearly married, newly married, nonstop married:

1. The Blessing of God Reigning in Your Home
2. The Blessing of Love
3. The Blessing of Fighting Fair
4. The Blessing of Forgiveness
5. The Blessing of Laughter
6. The Blessing of Parental Support Without Meddling
7. The Blessing of Going the Distance.