Black and white arms grasped each other and wrapped around the couple who had just exchanged their wedding vows. A black arm released the others and raised upward to join the prayers that drifted as a sweet fragrance toward heaven.
The wedding was the sweetest I had ever witnessed. When the bride made her entrance, the groom beamed and flashed a smile that became a permanent fixture. He had a moment to see his betrothed previously when they had their “first look.” He was in awe of her and told her she was gorgeous. At the ceremony as the two stood together before the officiants and attendants, she focused her eyes toward the sound of his voice. Had she been able to see his eyes upon her, she would have witnessed the same adoration the guests saw.
An innocent look of love was the main attraction all evening. After the ceremony when the music began to play, the call for the first dance was made. As the newlyweds made their way to the dance floor, the groom quietly told the bride just to sway back and forth with the music. He would lead her. He would be her eyes. As others made their way to the dance floor, he told her every detail and who joined in the dance. He led her gently and treated her as a priceless jewel – a queen.
You see, the two were more than just another couple. Though the bride was visually impaired, at the age of twenty-one, she moved to a large city and lived on her own. She worked at the same job for 20+ years, making her way alone and often unseen by thousands of seeing eyes. Yet, she never gave up. The groom had his own obstacles to overcome. He, too, managed to be a faithful and hard worker and have a place of his own. My admiration for both of them is unmeasured.
But there is more to this story. It’s a story of family. For years, their families prayed for God to send them someone special, someone to love, a forever friend, and someone to call their own. I was honored to be part of their special day and am so thankful that they were given the gift of pure innocent love.
