Scott Kamps
In this world, nothing’s for sure except death and taxes.
But some things, while not absolutely certain, are so routine and ubiquitous that all people, whether here in Graham County or the biggest cities around the world – regardless of language or culture – are commonplace.
When the Lord Jesus described ordinary societal life 2,000 years ago, He described it as “eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage."
While marrying and giving in marriage may be ordinary and universally common, it was extraordinary and special on April 11, when I had the privilege of giving my daughter – my only living daughter – away to a young man from Texas.
My wife and I assumed – from the time she was born – that this day would come: but it came quickly. It’s still hard to believe she’s out of our house. We had our Gracie girl for 7,116 days (about 19 1/2 years) and we sought to prepare her for a God-honoring life apart from us from the start. We labored (imperfectly, but genuinely) for her to treasure Christ and to value family more than a career; these were primary objectives in her education (and largely why we chose the difficult task of homeschooling her and her four brothers).
She grew into a wonderful and servant-hearted young woman – one of the greatest treasures God has entrusted to my wife and me.
It’s probably not a coincidence that the young man – Malakai – came from a Christian, homeschooling family as well: with six siblings of his own. The like-mindedness that used to be standard is too often turned upside down in our culture and education systems.
Gracie and Malakai were both taught crazy things like marriage is God’s gift to mankind, and so we look to Him for what it is: a lifetime covenant between one man and one woman; how to live as married individuals (the husband ought to lead and serve his wife; while the wife ought to submit to and help her husband); and what the purpose of marriage is (mutual society/companionship, procreation and remedy/protection from sin).
It was a delight to watch Malakai pursue marriage with Gracie honorably: he waited to flirt/show interest in her until after he got my permission to pursue her (that alone blew me away); he asked me for her hand in marriage; and he has sought to understand her and be a source of strength through some difficult times.
The emotions of the highly-anticipated day were overwhelmingly joyous. In marriage, we often experience the deepest joys and the greatest miseries of life in this world. It was comforting to know that I gave my only daughter away to a young man who treasures her and will strive to lead, provide and protect her.
They will – like all married couples – have their ups and downs; but they have, by God’s grace, a good start to what I pray is a long, fruitful marriage.
Scott Kamps writes a bi-weekly column for The Graham Star. He can be reached via email, thestableguy@frontier.com.