Here's To My Sister

On May 17, 2014 my family and I got to celebrate a wonderful occasion. My older sister, Carissa, married the love of her life. It was a beautiful, sun-filled day full of joy, family, and the promise of a great and exciting future for the new couple. I was privileged to be my sister’s Maid of Honor. It was a day that will go down as one of my favorites.

Since this momentous occasion is now past, I decided to dedicate this month’s blog post to my sister and her special day. I will share the speech I gave at the wedding’s reception.

Hi.  For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Charity.  I am the maid of honor and sister of the bride.  I have to admit that it was hard for me to decide what to say today because it isn’t easy to sum up everything I would love to say in just a short speech. 

Carissa, I have known you my whole life.  We have laughed together, we have cried together … You’ve been a role model for me to look up to, and a friend I could always rely on and share my deepest thoughts with. You tolerated me through my awkward pre-teen years—shared in my disappointments and dreams. I can’t think of anything perfect enough to describe just how much I love you.  There are no words to define the kind of friend you are to me and I certainly have no idea how to summarize everything that I want to say … but I will say this … 

You are the best sister a girl could ever ask for.  You have always been there for me, and I will ALWAYS be here for you. I don’t know where I would be without you, and I don’t know what the future has in store or what God has planned, but I do know that standing here today … on your wedding day … is exactly where I’m supposed to be. 

Every once in a while when two people meet, you know that it is meant to be.  And in my case, I have a journal entry proving just that. A few months ago, I was paging through an old journal of mine from 2008 and came across the phrase ... “I think Nathan likes Carissa” ... Just those words with no explanation as to what drove me to write them, but I can say this: I called it first J 

Nathan, I can’t say I was always happy that you chose to pursue my sister, but looking back I can see how perfect you two are together. It has been an incredible experience watching how you two have grown together and complete each other.  Not only do you love each other, but you love God and other people as well, and that is a truly beautiful thing.  As her Husband, I understand that YOU are her very best friend, and I am willing to pass that torch to you because I know you make her happy, I know you will take care of her, and I know that she loves you more than words can describe … 

I wish you both a very beautiful and blessed life together.

The happy couple shared their first dance to the song “Soulmate” by Josh Turner. It was a beautiful, touching moment. I will share the lyrics for everyone to enjoy.

Soulmate

Until the end of time

You're my soulmate

I'll love you till I get to heaven's gate

And if I go first sweetheart

I'll wait

'Cause I know I'll never find another

Soulmate

Your love

There's no telling where I'd be

Without your love

Stumbling in the dark

Would be pretty rough

When I get down you're the one

That lifts me up

I thank the Lord above

For your love

[Chorus:]

In this day and time

The right one is hard to find

Girl, that's why I'm holding on to you

Each and every night

When we turn out the light

There's no mistaking what we have is true

Soulmate

I hope that we grow old together

Soulmate

In the good and bad

Even through the heartache

We've got a special bond

That'll never break

'Cause darling you and I are

Soulmates

[Repeat Chorus:]

Soulmate

Until the end of time

You're my soulmate

I'll love you till I get to

Heaven's gate

We've got a special bond

That'll never break

'Cause darling you and I are

Soulmates

Yeah, I know I'll never find another

Soulmate