Dearest Katie,
I still remember when you were a little girl.
If I came to say hello to you at recess, you would always greet me with a running hug.
You were my little cousin.
You wanted so badly to be our friend, but the years between us created a separation.
What a privilege to be a volunteer youth leader when you started at Youth group.
I watched you dream, aspire and achieve.
You discovered your gifts, talents and things that excited your heart.
Those were the years I saw you transform from a little girl into a beautiful young lady.
A young lady who I grew to admire.
Whose maturity, integrity, wisdom, love and generosity were well beyond her years.
Eventually the chasm between us in age became less important and the shift happened.
You went from ‘my little cousin’ to my friend.
Friend.
We dreamed.
We laughed.
We drove cars through the country roads and explored Ontario.
You humoured my love for all things Jane Austen, which became a slow trickle that built a well inside of you as you grew to love what I loved about those stories.
'The day', is but a few away, from the moment you will pledge your heart and life to the man who has found himself captivated by all that you are.
And for that I applauded him of his excellent choice in the woman he asked to spend the rest of his days, loving & admiring, learning from, growing and laughing with.
But here is where the wisdom of my experience of life is halted for you.
If I came to say hello to you at recess, you would always greet me with a running hug.
You were my little cousin.
You wanted so badly to be our friend, but the years between us created a separation.
What a privilege to be a volunteer youth leader when you started at Youth group.
I watched you dream, aspire and achieve.
You discovered your gifts, talents and things that excited your heart.
Those were the years I saw you transform from a little girl into a beautiful young lady.
A young lady who I grew to admire.
Whose maturity, integrity, wisdom, love and generosity were well beyond her years.
Eventually the chasm between us in age became less important and the shift happened.
You went from ‘my little cousin’ to my friend.
Friend.
We dreamed.
We laughed.
We drove cars through the country roads and explored Ontario.
You humoured my love for all things Jane Austen, which became a slow trickle that built a well inside of you as you grew to love what I loved about those stories.
'The day', is but a few away, from the moment you will pledge your heart and life to the man who has found himself captivated by all that you are.
And for that I applauded him of his excellent choice in the woman he asked to spend the rest of his days, loving & admiring, learning from, growing and laughing with.
But here is where the wisdom of my experience of life is halted for you.
It was my
honour to know the young woman you became, to love you, believe in your gifts and skills.
Cheer for you, encourage and share my heart and the ‘wisdom’ of my years.
To watch as your faith deepened and your relationship with God anchored you.
What a gift to know you.
Bride.
What a lovely sound.Cheer for you, encourage and share my heart and the ‘wisdom’ of my years.
To watch as your faith deepened and your relationship with God anchored you.
What a gift to know you.
What joy.
I know not how to give wisdom to you from this point.
I cannot speak of what makes a good wife.
Or what advice to give based on experience.
What I can do however, is share a few things I have admired in couples that I am privileged to know.
Whose relationships have become the standard for which I continue to wait for.
And from this wisdom I will do as I have always loved to do.
Share with you the best of life.
In hopes of it adding into the foundation that has been laid by the love, wisdom and direction from your parents, family and friends.
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Eccles. 4:12
Always be friends.
Never forget how to laugh.
Take time to always cherish the things you appreciate in one another and say so, often.
Pray.
For one another.
And together.
...Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry
Eph 4:26
May this day truly be all you have dreamed, hoped and planned it to be.
Enjoy every second.
How funny to find that a chasm, that once separated us by years, is now a manifest reality of distance that separates us.
Know I am there with you in my heart and spirit.
I am cheering you on as you enter into this beautiful new season.I can only imagine how radiant you will be.
I love you.
Your forever friend & cousin,
Sheena
Comments
Post a Comment