This is me, crying my eyes out during Karen Jiang‘s speech at my wedding, which was a highlight of the wedding, and also, a highlight of my life.
Almost 15 years of waiting had culminated in this moment. Karen was there for me when I had broken up with my high school boyfriend for the 3rd andfinal time and had chosen a life of Sexual Integrity. I’d screwed up. I knew I couldn’t make it on my own, so for Christmas circa 2001, I put something simple, but meaningful in her gift. That year my sister Lani and I made mini gingerbread houses, and in hers I stuck a jewelry box with a small travelers lock and key in it.
“Keep it for me,” I said, “as a symbol of my heart. When I am not strong enough, smart enough, or disciplined enough, to keep it myself as I intend to – for Jesus, and for the man I will marry, please help me guard it.”
And she did! She kept that little lock and key, in that box – with icing sugar still on it from the gingerbread house, to present it to my husband on our wedding day, bidding him to keep and guard our hearts, that had become One in Christ Jesus that day.
Thank you KJ, for being such an incredible witness, warrior and sister by my side all these years. I still remember meeting you at my first VCAC/FLC Teens Camp in grade 8 and how impressed I was by your honesty, how welcome you made me feel, and the reality of your relationship with Jesus.