June 27th, 1943 was a sunny Sunday in Long Beach, California. I'm not sure if the people attending the Four Square church knew the plans or not.... but right after church this young couple had their wedding. The congregation all stayed to participate.I've heard that Jack Hayford attended this same church when he was growing up, so maybe he helped throw rice on them... But I've never asked him. If you know Jack, please find out for us.
I do know that the minister who married them, Howard Rusthoi, was married to the talented hymn writer, Esther Kerr Rusthoi. She was there and Mom and Dad loved them dearly. Her well known hymn, "When We See Christ" was very special to my parents.
Oft times the day seems long, our trials hard to bear,
We're tempted to complain, to murmur and despair;
But Christ will soon appear to catch His Bride away,
All tears forever over in God's eternal day.
Chorus:
It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.
Sometimes the sky looks dark with not a ray of light,
We're tossed and driven on , no human help in sight;
But there is One in heav'n who knows our deepest care,
Let Jesus solve your problem - just go to Him in pray'r.
Life's day will soon be o'er, all storms forever past,
We'll cross the great divide, to glory, safe at last;
We'll share the joys of heav'n - a harp, a home, a crown,
The tempter will be banished, we'll lay our burden down.
Somehow, I have a sneaking suspicion that Mom & Dad may have invited Howard & Esther over for cake tonight. Of course, I can't really base that on biblical knowledge, but we do know that after the resurrection, Jesus ate with the disciples and discussed earthly matters. He didn't just sit on a cloud nearby and show them cool heavenly tricks. He was and is real. Experiencing the reality of heaven is something that my folks and oh so many of their dear friends are experiencing today. Although life in Sunny is pretty fabulous.... I want to be sure I'm set to join the party one day.
4 comments:
What a tender, precious memory! Thanks for sharing your heart. Make sure there's room at the table for me. This is one party I'm not going to miss.
peace~elaine
Reading your post brought so much emotion that I hardly know what to write! Monday, June 30th, my husband, Curtis and I will celebrate our 58th Wedding Anniversary. In my profile I said we had been married 58 years but I suppose I should have said almost 58.
When we married our church was in a revival and we married just before the service. I doubt there were many people for the service because most of them came to the reception. I don't remember why there was a conflict in the dates for wedding/revival. But I feel pretty certain that our wedding date had already been set.
Reading the words of "It Will Be Worth It All" also brought back memories. Many years ago I sung this song as a solo and also played it for offertory on the piano. It spoke to the very soul of me then and it speaks to the very soul of me now!
Then when I read of your parents "celebrating" in heaven it just about put me in orbit, emotionally. I know that my husband and I will soon come to the end of our earthly journey and we have shared a deep and abiding love. I have told a number of people that if we couldn't be married in heaven, I hoped that God would let me live next door. :)
We don't really know how heaven will be in relation to earthly family but it will be wonderful, however God has planned it.
And,yes, it WILL be worth it all when we see Jesus!
Truly, you have made my day!
Mary
Sweet, sweet post Grace. Thanks for sharing this. I know my own parents, married 63 years at the time they left this life, are waiting for me and I look happily forward to the reunion. Blessings, marlene
oh my, the good ol days... what a precious memory...
on a side note, I just took one of those bloggy tests that reveal your "true personality" It was called, what year you should have been born in... any guesses? My test revealed I should have been born in the 50s... I guess I'm not surprised... hee hee hee... I know I would have enjoyed wedding that broke out into revival before, during, after!!!
Where'd those days go?
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