Tracy and Fred Wedding 10/27/1991

“Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”

You have made a good beginning in building a life together. I sense that you know that nothing in life is more important than relationships, friendships. The author of Hebrews would have us know we have wondrous support as we run the race of life together. All who have gone before us, all we say are “dead”, are a great cloud of witnesses who surround us. They “pull for us”, they cheer us in our pursuit of fullness of life. Among the witnesses are grandparents, great-grandparents, descendants unknown. All them have lived in their time, have married, have had families, have worried, have rejoiced, have fought, have forgiven. Remember the great cloud of witnesses. They want you to, as they remember you.

As you remember, learn from the witnesses, even those witnesses here today. Learn from them what are the ingredients for a loving, lasting relationship. There is a vast amount of wisdom which the witnesses have accumulated with regard to marriage. They model for us how to hold to promises in the best of times, and in the worst of times. We know we live in a turbulent and troubling time. It's a time in our land when more often than not “things” are considered more important than people. It is a difficult time in which to build lasting relationships, to keep promises. (Thank God that His is a deed of forgiveness.) Keeping company with, and tuning in on the wisdom of the great cloud of witnesses can help us to be people persons, promise keepers.

Fred and Tracy, run with perseverance the race upon which you now enter together. Go for the record! Be pioneers! Show the way in which a covenanted marriage can be the environment in which two persons can learn love, can be lovers for each other, and can be a blessing to all others they know in life. All the witnesses will be cheering you on.