Wonderful Wedding Day

We have just had the most amazing day on Saturday at our youngest daughters wedding blessing.

The whole event took place in the picturesque garden of the Auberge, on what was the hottest day of the year. No one could have asked for a more precious day.

Below is a poem that I wrote for the occasion, and had the privilege to read it at the ceremony.

The Clematis and The Oak

The Gardner stood with his hand outstretched, and in it held a seed
A closer look revealed to me it wasn’t any weed
For in his grasp I clearly saw an acorn small and round
I wondered for a moment the reason why he found -
The need to have this item so common, so well known
But he said to me, you wait and see, until it’s fully grown

Into the ground the acorn went, t’was tended with such care
Yet what seemed to me like endless months the soil remained so bare
But then one day I saw a shoot emerge above the soil
The Gardner too had noticed it, but never ceased to toil
He weeded, feeded, kept an eye on what was now an oak
The ground around was kept so clean, this seedling mustn’t choke

And then he stretched his hand again; I leant forward so I could see
The tiny seed inside his grasp was as small as small could be
He told me this was a special seed that needed extra care
It couldn’t go in open ground that now was cold and bare
It went inside the glasshouse where conditions were just right
The Gardner gave it water, and gave it heat and light

It too began to germinate into a plant so fair
Eventually it too was placed outside in the fresh air
The years went by unnoticed, the oak and plant did well
The tree grew tall and handsome, the clematis, a beautiful smell
But something happened gradually, that no one seemed to see
The plant and tree grew bit by bit until it came to be
The plant reached out and grasped the oak and both grew up together
They soon became inseparable, that no matter what the weather –
The oak gave to the plant support and strength and protective cover
The plant brought scent and beauty as they entwined each other

I met the Gardner recently; we spoke of this and that
It didn’t take so very long before we began to chat –
About the tree before us, and the beauty of the shrub
I pointed out those two were one, and what an awful job –
That we would have to separate the two now joined together
He said that wasn’t in the plan, and had I thought that whether –
When he had planted both those seeds he had upon his mind
That if he grew them close enough together they would bind



You see we meet today together not because of chance
It’s not a coincidence that tonight Kate and Wynter will dance -
Together as husband and wife, that two become as one
The Gardner planned it years ago, today it has been done
God brought you both together, a woman and a man
We are not here by accident; it’s all part of His plan
Wynter be a strong oak tree, a support for our dear Kate
And Kate be beautiful and cling to him, you are his one soul mate

Marriage brings so many strengths; there are challenges with it too
But as you start this step together there’s one thing you must do
And that is like our story of the oak tree and the flower
If you hold each other tightly you will have such power
Let God who brought you both together, who tended plants and earth –
Give you both a marriage that you agree is worth –
More than any money, than any life apart
I urge you both that every day you give your life, your heart –
To one another, may you be ever true
Start and end each day together, with the words “I love you”.