For Joan and Francis on March 2 - their Wedding Day

[I initially wrote the Father of the Bride speech and published it on March 2, 2013, the day of the wedding. I soon removed it and decided to rewrite it focusing on the verse in Scripture which I will further elaborate here.]

For Joan and Francis on your wedding day:

I chose this verse in the Book of Colossians chapter 3 verse 2 because of the numbers 3 and 2 which is the same as your anniversary date March 2. I hope that it is easy enough for both of you to remember and that you will continue to find this verse a source of inspiration and strength for years to come.

So Colossians 3:2 says "Set your minds on things above, not on things below."

Your mother and I have found this verse true to the secret of holding our marriage together, through thick and thin. It tells us to look up when we are facing all kinds of challenges. Look to the all-powerful God to give us strength. Look for eternal perspectives in all our dealings with others, especially each other. (When it comes to arguments, if they don't involve heaven and hell I just let your mother win☺!) You will find grace in times of need. Indeed, the word grace is chosen in all three of our girls' middle name in Chinese. Joan's Chinese name is 頌恩, which literally means Praise the Grace of God. So wherever you are in life, God's grace will go with you. Learn to praise him (i.e. God - not Francis☺) in whatever the circumstance you find yourself in. He will bless you and your children (and I don't mean birds!).


Coming back to the verse, the verse that precedes it (3:1) says: "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." Here is the part that addresses your hearts and not just your minds. There will be times when you just can't wrap your minds around what is happening - difficulties that are beyond your control, or as a consequence of errors made for being human. You are to remember that not only Christ was raised from the dead, you also have been raised along with him. If he is not raised then we live in hopelessness. But the fact is He is Risen! We have eternal hope of reigning with him. He is now seated at the right hand of God. If God is the Commander in Chief then Christ is the Chief of Staff (as in West Wing☺)! So if your hearts are in trouble, set your hearts on things above, not on things below.

O here is another favourite verse of mine for the both of you:
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32)
(Notice the numbers 3 & 2 and grace in here too☺)