Faith in the Freshman

I am not the first father to give his daughter’s hand in marriage.  I am not even the first to preach the sermon at his daughter’s wedding.  But, this is the first time for me.  Will I make it through the message?

More than a few people have told me that it is not easy.  The emotion flares suddenly and all at once tears fill the eyes and a lump clogs the throat.  I even got a little weepy as I wrote the sermon a few days ago.

I have a few things going for me to make my job easier.  First, Hannah is marrying an awesome young man, Zach Meineke.  They met their freshman year at Concordia Nebraska (I tell you, that freshman year can be a transformational one in lots of ways — read the book!)  They are great for each other and happy together.

Second, and more important, I am preaching about Jesus.  I am preaching for the two of them but not about the two of them.  The focus, as in all of Christian worship, is on Christ.

That may not prevent my mind from wandering back and forth a little bit.  I’ll think back on when Hannah was a precious little girl, and I’ll stand in amazement at what a wonderful young woman she is now.  God has blessed our family with the gift of an incredible kid — Hannah Ruth Ferry, soon-to-be-Meineke.

Already a few tears are moistening at the corners of my eyes.  Will I make it through?  Let’s take a poll — who thinks I’ll get through the sermon without crying like a baby, and who thinks I’ll fall apart?  Also, I am open to advice from folks who have been there before.  Any suggestions for a first-time father-of-the-bride?