Recently, on a bright summer day, our Abraham married his Taylor. It was a day of great joy: a worshipful ceremony and a beautiful dinner and celebrative dancing - the melding of two families. We so are grateful to God for the gift of these people and for this day of commitment!
Randy and I gave them blessings at several of the pre-wedding events.
Here is mine:
Abraham Luther’s Wedding Blessing
~ July 2, 2023 ~
❤️
My blessing on my son, ABRAHAM LUTHER WESTLUND,
as you prepare to wed TAYLOR SAYRE BIXBY:
Dearest Abraham Luther ~
You know that we have prayed for you since long before you were born or were put into our arms. Each stage of your life has been a wonder to behold ~ a learning process for you AND for us ~ and a season of prayer.
Now - as you’re on the brink of marriage - we pray on. And we bless you:
May you be a man of STRENGTH:
“I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my irock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” -Psalm 18:1
May you be a man of WISDOM: “How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.” ~ Proverbs 16:16
May you be a man of PEACE:
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." ~ Matthew 5:9
May you be a man of JUSTICE:
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” ~ Micah 6:8
May you be a man of THE WORD:
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!" ~ Psalm 119:9-10
May you be a man of PRAYER:
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
May you be a man of PATIENCE, KINDNESS, AND LOVE:
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it jis not irritable or resentful;it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
May you be a man who is SLOW TO ANGER (because you’re quick to listen):
“Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” ~ James 1:19
May you be a man of BRAVERY:
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with cmy righteous right hand.” ~ Isaiah 41:10
May you be a man of FAITH:
"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” ~ 1 Corinthians 16:13
May you be a man of who loves as JESUS instructs and models:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself.” ~ Luke 10:27
May you always see the gift that Taylor is to you:
“He who finds ua wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.” ~ Proverbs 18:22
May you live out the profound mystery by loving Taylor as Christ loves the Church: “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her …This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church…let each one of you love his wife as himself.” ~ Ephesians 5:25a, 32-33a
May you always hold fast to Taylor:
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” ~ Ephesians 5:31
So, my Abraham Luther, as you embark on your marriage:
May you be true to your life verse: “Let your heart … be wholly devoted to the LORD our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments.” ~ 1 Kings 8:61 and may you live out your name: ABRAHAM:“the father of many” or “great leader” and LUTHER: “valiant warrior” and WESTLUND: from the long line of Westlunds.
We remember and honor your birth family today as we stand in their stead. We think they would be proud of the man you have become.
May you be like the men of the ages and your forebears - your great grandfathers, and your grandfathers: EARL LINDY Westlund and DANIEL HARRY Lambrides, and your father: RANDY WAYNE WESTLUND and be will be numbered among the faithful and be greeted by Jesus with a hearty: “Well done, my good and faithful servant, my son!”
We will be praying for you and Taylor - that whether you are at work in your helping professions or enjoying time off together or singing your heart out or exploring your new neighborhood or serving in your Faith City Church or playing with Maggie; whether you are in a season of ease or difficulty (because both come in our lives), that you will live giving glory to your Father, following your Savior, and abide in the Spirit.
God will make known to you and Taylor the path of life; in His presence there will be fullness of joy; at His right hand there will be pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)
With all my love ~
Your Mom
❤️
