#101075 - The Second Greatest Day of My Life
It Started a Wonderful Journey with an Incredible Person
This day forty-nine years ago - October 10th, 1975 - was the second greatest day of my life. The day I married Teri Thompson in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Our wedding was scheduled for eight o’clock that Friday evening with Teri’s Dad, Dr. Thomas M. Thompson, officiating. And for those concerned with the already late hour, there were to be no sighs of relief at 8:01pm.
The Nieder side of the family would travel to the destination from southern New Jersey, “South Jersey,” which would demand navigation of a known traffic nightmare through Philadelphia -the Schuylkill Expressway. And on this particular evening an incessant downpour added to the already cursed drive. The clock struck eight … and a lot of travel weary Nieders were still MIA. The decision was made for a slight delay … “surely they were just down the street.” Fifteen minutes passed, then another fifteen.
Finally, as the clock was not too many moments away from chiming the tune of nine, the decision was made that the ceremony could wait no longer. We hoped and prayed that all was well for my elderly Grandma Nieder and family. After all, the year 1975 was long before the era of a cellphone on every hip.
Eight o’clock was a distant blur in the rear view mirror as I, along with my groomsmen and my Dad (who was my Best Man), walked toward our designated positions at the front of the church auditorium. The organist began a masterful rendition of “Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring” as Teri’s attendants entered. They held bouquets of ivy encircling candles. Lit candles. After all, it was a candlelight ceremony.
Then came that exhilarating pause.
The organ boldly sounded the first few notes of the Bridal Chorus. The long suffering congregation stood, relieved and ready for the entrance of my beautiful bride. I stared, mesmerized and fixated on those entry doors at the back of the auditorium. A million thoughts nervously swirled inside my brain. The double doors swung open. I nervously strained, determined to catch a glimpse of my bride on the arm of my soon to be Father In Law.
And then it happened. My dear Grandma Mabel began a painstakingly eternal walk toward me, limping down that aisle, along with the frown on her greatly fatigued face. Her knees were well worn, but she was determined to take her place in the front row next to my Mom and other grandparents regardless of the Bridal Chorus’ announcement.
Then finally, it was worth the wait … the breathtaking moments - my angelic bride on the arm of her wonderful Dad, walking toward me, glowing with joy. The evening had begun!The hour long delay did not come without consequences. The candles the bridesmaids held were weary. Their 120 minute life now dripped an excessive amount of wax, splattering onto the glass sconces, threatening to ignite even fresh flowers and ivy. And Teri’s Dad was giving away his only daughter, so he was naturally taken in by the moment and preached a long enough sermon to cover four daughters’ weddings.
My dear Roman Catholic relatives had been ready to call it a night before pulling into the church parking lot. I’m not exactly sure what they expected in a Protestant Wedding ceremony (I didn’t know what to expect!) - but surely they’d hoped for something short and sweet, comparable to the five minute homily their priest would share as a portion of the mass. Who was this preacher up there who definitely was not at a loss for words? And why did he seem so uninterested in what the clock was saying? They were exhausted. And hungry. We all were.
The ceremony came to an end, and Teri, unfazed by the stress of the evening, was even more beautiful … and I was confident I’d hit the jackpot! She was my lawfully wedded wife!
So today we celebrate 49 years as husband and wife.
Now why would I say that this was the “second best” decision of my life? The fact is our wedding would never have happened if it were not for the MOST important decision I had made just months earlier when I met a new Friend. It was on January 11th when, at the urging of a coworker, I attended a weekend retreat held at a camp in Lebanon, New Jersey. It was there that I met Jesus. It was there that I made the decision to place my full faith and trust in Jesus Christ. I acknowledged my sinful condition and my extreme need for a Savior. My Friend, the Lord Jesus Christ. The One who suffered a horrible death on a cross, bearing the punishment for our sin some 2000 years earlier. After three days in the grave, He arose, fully alive, victorious over sin and death. If I was the only other person on this earth, Jesus would have still died - just for me. That’s how much He loves me. That’s how much He loves Teri, our children and grandchildren. And that’s how much He loves you.
For years Teri had prayed for her future husband - a man committed to being a faithful follower of Jesus. Today I am honored that the Lord has allowed me to be the answer to that prayer.
From our personal experience and counseling countless other couples during several decades, we have learned that a Christ centered marriage is the key to a GREAT MARRIAGE. When each partner continues to grow in faith and reliance upon Jesus, the blessing of a great marriage is inevitable.
I don’t promise it will be a perfect marriage, void of sorrow, pain, or conflict. We are living in a sin saturated, fallen world. Along the way we’ve faced plenty of trials and even our share of tragedies. But our goal is to seek Him together and follow His lead. Difficult and even devastating times have and will come as long as we live in this world. But there is a certain confidence that only the Lord Jesus Christ can give - a peace that surpasses human comprehension - that carries us through those times. We are not strong enough to do it on our own. But we do not have to be … when we need Him to carry us, He will carry us through. And He has.
The challenges, trials, and tragedies - by the grace of God - guide us and sustain us as we purpose to live for that which is eternal. And we promise you, with the help of our Lord Jesus Christ, you can have the same. Whether you’re hoping to someday embark along with a yet unknown spouse on your own marriage journey … or maybe you’re like us - a few decades down the road, you can enjoy the gift of a GREAT MARRIAGE!
John