Prayer of the Father of the Bride

[Alex Tang]

The pomp and ceremonies of the wedding are over, the last revelers
have gone home and the young couple has embarked on their honeymoon.
Here am I, O Lord, sitting quietly before you. I wish to thank you for
the privilege of being the father of the bride. My heart is bursting
with gratitude that come from your wonderful generosity. When I first
held my little girl in my arms - so small, warm, fragile and beautiful
– I know that it is pure grace that brought her into my life. As I
watch her grow from a baby to childhood and gradually blossom into
womanhood, I can feel your presence in our little family and your
smile upon us all. Father, I confess that I have not been a good
father but I have been trying my best. For whatever my shortcomings
have been in bringing her up, I trust in your Holy Spirit to fill in
the gaps.

Father, I pray that you will help her to become the helpmate to the
man you have so carefully chosen for her. Let them be anamcara to each
other. Now, they have to learn from each other. Please give them lots
of grace for each occasion, overflowing with forgiveness, and joy in
their new life together. May their love grow into hesed love – a
covenant love of commitment.


As they grow closer to each other, let them grow closer to you, O
Lord, the originator and finisher of their faith. And as they begin
their journey together, may they partake of the goodness of your table
fellowship, drink deep of your living water, and dive deep into your
fathomless depths. You are a self-revealing God. Please help them to
appreciate your presence in their everyday life. May they grow in
their marriage as they grow deeper into knowing and becoming like your
Son. Yet in their growing, let them allow one another to reach their
full potential as themselves, not as each other’s expectation, but as
their own unique personalities.


As you have taught us, there is a season for everything. There will be
times of great rejoicing and there will be times of great sorrow.
Here, in the springtime of their marriage, give them joy as they
discover the pleasures of each other. Protect them with your angels
and build a hedge around them that they may be safe from pettiness and
violence of this world. Lead them to your communities of faith that
will nurture and nourish them in all ways. Give them a sense of
vocation and involve them in your missio dei.


Father, help me to ‘let go’ of my little girl and to welcome a new
‘son’ into my family. It is a time of transition for me and my joy is
bitter-sweet. This is a new experience for me though I know that many
fathers have walked this path through time immemorial. I must now take
on a different role. Teach me, O Lord, to be a blessing to them.

Amen



Note: My daughter was married on 18 July 2009

Alex Tang
Kairos Spiritual Formation Ministries
website: www.kairos2.com
blog: www.draltang01.blogspot.com
email: dral...@yahoo.com