The Waiting Woman

Two evenings prior I'd been slaving away washing the filthy floor in the church kitchen. I really didn't think it was important to do because, after all, the wedding reception was going to be held in the other building. But, nonetheless, I washed the floor of its vacation Bible school food and footprints. It was blasted hot in there and I kept muttering about how unnecessary it was to go to all this work.

When I came into the church on the evening of the wedding I entered through the kitchen door. I was startled to see the bride sitting at one of the small tables with her seventeen year old daughter. They were holding hands. I'd never seen her so beautiful. The space and the moment were private and holy. I made my quick hello and good luck and exited into the sanctuary. People arrived for the ceremony. Many had never been there before and they, too, happened to enter through the kitchen door. All through it she remained at the table with her daughter. To this point, her choices in life had dealt her painful blows. At this point, she was on the precipice of a new life, a new choice, a new future. Slipping into my pastor's wife thing I sat in the back to help Aunt Millie and Grandpa Joe in the door and to their seats. The pastor met with the groom and his sons for prayer before walking to the front. They stood and waited. One son went to the keyboard and started playing amazing music. I turned to my right to see her still seated in the kitchen. She was radiantly filled with hope ~ time stopped for a moment. Leaving her old life at the kitchen table, she rose with her children by her side, walked across the clean floor to start all things new. They walked towards me and then turned to go down the aisle. As they passed I instinctively stood and found myself motioning for everyone to stand. They did, she walked, and met her future at the end of the aisle. It was a beautiful and emotional wedding service. These two people were so very happy to be together. Everyone was moved by their love and their joy. And for the moments she spent beforehand, in anticipation, in loving conversation with her children, it was only right that she be sitting on a chair on a perfectly clean floor. It was the honor and respect she'd earned and deeply deserved. Next time I'll just be quiet and mop away.