A Wedding Surprise

She steps onto the aisle, and starts walking towards the groom. Her poise confident, her chin lifted up. Every step into her slow motion catwalk, reveals both her thrill and her shyness.

Every eye in the room is fixed on her, dazzled by her beauty.

The groom stands there, waiting impatiently. The smile on his face is enchanting, the light in his eyes, dazzling.

She casts a split-second glance on his fidgeting hands, clasped in front of him.

No ring on his finger. But that won’t be for long.

She swallows hard and approaches the groom.

This should be the happiest day of her life, but somehow, it isn’t.

There’s a smile on her face, but it seems a bit plastic. A glow on her lips, but its only lipstick.

As the gap between her and the groom closes, reality dawns on her. All the months of preparation: Fitting the dresses, rehearsing the steps and rehashing the past dreams of this glorious day; all of these fade into oblivion.

The closer she gets to the groom, the further she feels from him. Tears fill her eyes, blurring her vision. She can barely see his face through her misty eyes.

But she knows that it doesnt really matter. For his line of sight is elsewhere. His gaze is slightly over her shoulders.

On reaching the altar, she steps to the side and stands beside a man. A different man.

She will not be marrying the groom today.

This is not her wedding. He is not her groom.

Today is not her wedding day.

She is not the bride. She is just a maid.

Always the bridesmaid; but never the bride.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” [Matthew 7:21-23]

For the fame of His name,

Cornell