Adopted for Life: Mr. & Mrs. Austin Kruggel

I have regularly debated in my own mind how I might write this next blog post immediately following the wedding of our first-born son, Austin, to our now wonderful daughter-in-law, Meagan. After experiencing the "magic" firsthand with all of the emotions that fly through your being both during and after that special day, it's almost impossible to try to capture any of it with mere words. Even today, five days after the ceremony, I find myself stupefied and flabbergasted. So there's a part of me that doesn't want to ruin it by even attempting to capture any of it here in this blog. Thus, I will choose my investment carefully and with reverent brevity. Perhaps with time I'll be in a less confounded place and better able to express myself.

There are a few moments and experiences in life that are commonly known as significant milestones. Some are fortunate enough to live to experience them, and many are not. Early in life they're simple things like birthdays and primary school graduations. Later they become more pronounced in our own minds, things like cultural age-marks that elevate you to a certain status (e.g., 16 and 21) and the completion of secondary or post-graduate studies. Your first boyfriend or girlfriend no doubt stand out. For those that have children, their entree into this world is clearly a highlight and a miraculous moment no matter how many you have or whether they're adopted. But in my own mind nothing quite compares to that moment when you look into the eyes of your beloved, that soul that God ordained for you for as long as you both shall live, and saying, "I do and will love you like none other for the rest of my life." That's mysterious, and that's indescribable. The Bible even states that "This mystery is great;" (Ephesians 5:32a), so it's no wonder that I'm at a loss for words. Aside from entering into marriage with Jesus, which that verse later describes ("... but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church."), I believe there's nothing greater.

And you know it's great when you see the look in your son's and future daughter-in-law's eyes as they gaze at one another as if the throngs of onlookers never existed. Nothing else in the world matters at that moment than being enraptured by your future wife or husband. There's not a happier, more fulfilling or exuberant experience in the whole of life. I remember it all too well, as if it were yesterday, in my own marriage to Victoria, and was flooded with memories when I watched my own flesh and blood encounter the magnificence of holy marriage. What joy, what peace, what contentment and what satisfaction. They're in love and all else in life is of secondary importance, as it should be.

I've been to a lot of weddings in my lifetime and, aside from the fact that I'm obviously biased, I've witnessed few that rival the Christ exalting, God honoring magnification that occurred at Austin and Meagan's. Above and beyond the masterful orchestration of the service itself and the gospel-centered message from the pastor, I think it was the way that Austin and Meagan handled and expressed themselves toward one another that was more glorious than anything else. When a man sees his bride in all of her beauty and majesty, and musters up all the energy he can to hold back the impulse to run down the aisle instead of patiently waiting for her to slowly come to him, and when the woman sees her bridegroom beaming with a grin from ear to ear and biting his quivering lip to keep from shedding tears of purest joy, that, and that alone is the most vivid manifestation of love, deep love that knows no bounds.

Thank you, Austin and Meagan, for giving me, all of the other parents and everyone else that saw what happened last Saturday a glimpse into heaven. What I witnessed was a foretaste of an expectant Jesus doing everything He possibly can to keep from rapturing His bride too early, and she, being more beautiful than I could ever possibly imagine in my most artistic moments of splendor. You and Meagan are a gift to me, Mom, Eric and Diane, and we thank you for submitting yourself to one another and to Jesus as you have. May God go before you.