How Beautiful: A God Sized Love Story

How Beautiful: A God Sized Love Story It seemed like another typical Saturday afternoon in the wedding gown industry. The store was filled with the hustle and bustle of busy consultants tending to blushing brides-to-be. Families were gathered discussing wedding details and trying to envision their loved ones walking down the isle to say “I do” in the particular dress they were modeling. As I was tending to a customer, I heard my name called over the intercom. This was my cue to excuse myself and walk to the front to be introduced to a new bride. As I walked to the welcoming desk, I wondered what type of Bride I was about to meet. Was she going to be excited? Did she know exactly what she wanted? Was her family with her? Was she a nervous bride? As I arrived at the welcome desk, the customer service representative told me that my Bride was shopping for her sister in Romania. She was the same size as her sister and would need to try on different dresses. The CSR pointed to a girl sitting on the couch. I took her paper work and began to walk over. I walked over to the green leather couch in our sitting area and plopped myself down in front of the Romanian sister of the Bride. I noticed a man sitting beside her, who glanced up from his book to acknowledge my presence; he politely smiled then looked back down at his book. He seemed to feel somewhat out of place in the room full of women. Most men do. Sitting to next to him was the sister-of-the-Romanian Bride. Amelia was petite with dark brown hair accented with golden highlights. She was quite beautiful. Amelia looked up from the catalog and smiled warmly at me. The two of us began to chat about her sister’s wedding in Romania. Amelia spoke with perfect English and a heavy Romanian accent. I enjoyed hearing her talk. After I had gotten an idea of what kind of dresses she liked, I left to prepare her room with the proper undergarments for a bridal gown. After the dressing room was prepared, Amelia walked back to the dressing room and the two of us began the process of finding Amelia’s sister’s dream dress. It is customary for consultants to ask questions and talk to the brides so that we may first get to know them and second gain an idea of what kind of dress they might like. This comes natural to me because I love to hear the different stories of how brides meet their fiancés. For Amelia, I wanted to know about her Romanian sister. She told me that her sister was recently engaged and trusted Amelia’s fashion sense. Choices are limited in Romania. Amelia told me that she was married to the man sitting on the couch. Amelia and her husband were wed a couple of years ago and her sister in Romania loved Amelia’s wedding gown. They had tried to get permission for her sister to leave the country to come to America to shop, but they were not granted approval. So Amelia had the responsibility of picking her sisters wedding gown. I now had Amelia dressed in her first wedding gown choice. She took a quick glance in the mirror; her face was glowing with delight. I couldn’t help but wonder if she had a flashback to her own wedding day. I asked her if she would like to go show her husband. She smiled and nodded eagerly. As we walked around the corner, Dan looked up from the book and watched his Bride as she walked toward him. His face was filled with delight and awe as he watched his Bride model the wedding gown. I could tell that he was thinking about the day he wed his bride because he had the same look every groom has on his face when they see their bride for the first time. The groom’s facial expression the moment he sees his bride is my favorite part of a wedding. Dan looked lovingly at his wife; as Amelia and I discussed the details of the dress. She was glowing. We then decided to try another gown. As I was helping her dress in the second gown, I took this time to get to know her. I asked what brought her to America. She answered, “My husband.” From that moment she had me intrigued. “Well how did you meet your husband?” She responded. “I met him when I was only fifteen. Have you ever heard of something called mission trip?” she said in a heavy Romanian accent. I smiled and shared with her that I was also a believer. She continued, “My husband came over on a mission trip when I was fifteen. I could not speak English and he could not speak Romanian. We first spoke through a friend who translated. My friend did not know much English herself! After he left, we kept in touch over the years and I learned English. I came to America and worked as an au pair. After awhile we were married.” As I zipped up the wedding gown, I stood in awe of how God worked in the love story of his children, bringing two people together that lived nations apart. What a beautiful love story! We too, are living in the midst of a beautiful love story. The tapestry of God’s word paints a beautiful picture of marriage. The scripture in Ephesians 5:21-30 teaches us that a marriage covenant reflects the relationship of Christ and the Church. The wife is to submit to the husband, as the church is to submit to Christ. Husbands are to love the wife as “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” We see God’s love for the nations through Christ’s mandate in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Amelia and Dan’s story is a reflection of God’s love for the church and the nations. Like Dan and Amelia, we too have a translator or in better words one who speaks on our behalf, his name is Christ. Dan went to Amelia to share the gospel. God sent his son Jesus to be the gospel for us. Dan and Amelia kept in touch over the years. God sent his Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 2 so that we might have continual communication with the Father. Amelia learned English. We study God’s word so that we may know him better. “My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words” Proverbs 4:20. Dan and Amelia were joined in marriage. We are joined with Christ through salvation (1 Corinthians 6:17). Dan went across an ocean to meet his Bride. God sends his disciples across the ocean or across the street to share the love of Christ. How Beautiful! Hebrews 10:15 “As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who share the good news!” Listen to this song "How Beautiful"Take a moment. Close your eyes. Listen to the words. Worship.