The Dressmaker, The Innkeeper, The Wedding Guests and the Man of God’s Word

Note: this post first appeared several months ago as a series of 3 posts.  One of the more popular series of posts, all three are combined here as a reminder in this season when we celebrate God coming to earth in human form, that he is still with us.  

Always.  Everywhere.

God made his presence known at my sister in law’s wedding…

He did that through a dressmaker, an innkeeper, the wedding guests and someone I have come to think of as the man of God’s word.

It was my sister in law’s first marriage. She was 67. She decided to go the whole “big white wedding dress” route. To understand everything that happened, you need to know that my sister in law is bipolar and has been diagnosed with related personality disorders and learning disabilities. All of this makes it very difficult for her to decide what she is going to do and then do it.

When she first called to tell us about the wedding, we thought it was a moment of enthusiasm that would pass. But as the weeks went by she bought the dress, arranged a location for the wedding and sent out invitations.

We drove the 350 miles to the wedding thinking everything was ready. It was the wedding day itself before we found out we were wrong.

The Dressmaker

Early that morning we discovered that my sister in law hadn’t picked up her dress, and was “way too nervous” to get it now. So my wife and daughter went to pick it up. When they got to the shop, the owner told them the rest of the story.

Talking to my sister in law, she had immediately recognized that she was dealing with a special situation. She found a dress, fitted it, bustled it and gave my sister in law a free veil.

My sister in Law had told her that she only had $200. So that was what the shop owner charged for the dress, the veil and all the work. Was the shop owner doing her job? Yes. But she was also letting God show up in her life. And because of that, He also showed up in my sister in law’s life, my wife’s life, my daughter’s life and my life.

The Innkeeper

My sister in law decided to stay at a hotel the night before the wedding. When she got there, she wasn’t sure she could find the elevators or her room. The desk clerk was the only employee working at the hotel. But she put up a sign that said “Back in 5 Minutes”, and took my sister in law to her room.

The next day, just two hours before the wedding, my sister in law said she wanted a reception, but hadn’t made any plans.

Two Hours! I was in a strange town. I had no idea what to do. I went to the friendly desk clerk. Did they have a room we could use? She took me to the only meeting room in the hotel. It was strewn from one end to the other with paper and debris. The room would cost 200 dollars she said, but they couldn’t possibly get it ready in a couple of hours. I mentioned that I wanted the room for a wedding reception for my sister in law.

“Did she check in last night?” the clerk asked.

“Yes.” I replied.

Then she told me the story of my sister in law’s arrival at the hotel the night before.

For my sister in law, she said, the reception room would be ready on time… And there would be no charge.

I needed more help. Where could I get food?

Leave that to her, she said. She found a local restaurant, arranged catering and even negotiated a discount. Was she doing her Job? Yes … But she was also surrendering to God, letting His love flow out of her and into the lives of others.

The Wedding Guests

Finally it was wedding time. My sister in law’s friends gathered at a beautiful gazebo on the edge of a lake.

The ceremony started, the music played and my sister in law started down the path to the gazebo in her wedding dress.
Suddenly, imitating something she later said she had seen in a movie, she pulled her wedding dress and petticoats above her knees so everyone could see her bright red tennis shoes. It was perfectly normal to her. And if anyone in the crowd thought otherwise, they didn’t show it. There was not a smile, not a wink not a knowing nudge from any of the guests. Were they being polite? Yes. But more than that, they were letting the love of God flow through them.

The Man of God’s Word

The wedding ended… We rushed back to the hotel. We set up the food in a buffet line, and arranged appetizers on the table. The guests arrived. We were ready to eat. But everybody looked around uncomfortably.

Finally one person spoke up, “I don’t really know you”, he said. “But we’re all believers, and we’d like to pray before we eat.”

God had shown up all day through the dressmaker, the innkeeper, and the wedding guests.

It was our turn to honor Him and thank Him. He reminded us of that by showing up through one more person, whom I have come to think of as the man of God’s word. One more person who surrendered to Him and let His love flow through him.

Where has God shown up in your Life?  Share your story in the comments……