Whose Side Are You On?

Bride on the left. Groom on the right. That is where you stand traditionally during the wedding. According to www.theknot.com, this was so that the groom could keep his right hand near his sword should anyone come to take his bride (bummer for the left-handed grooms, I guess). By the way, this is for Christian weddings,- Jewish weddings are opposite.

Thus, tradition tells us that when you attend a wedding, the friends and family of the bride sit on the left side of the sanctuary and the groom's friends and family sit on the right side. Not quite sure what couples who are friends of both the bride and groom do in those situations. And it's awkward when you attend a wedding where there may be more people on one or the other side of the church.

So many couples came up with a solution. At the end of the aisle as people come in to sit down, a sign may be posted which says, "Today, two families become one. We ask that you choose a seat not a side." It is a sweet way of bringing everyone all together to celebrate. However, the immediate family members typically stay on the same side as the one they are related to.

It is our hope that you will always be on each other's side supporting your spouse. No matter what you each face in your marriage, it is our hope that you will defend your spouse.

Daddy and I are both in accountability groups. In those groups we share the highs and lows of our week. One thing that is taboo for me to speak about at those meetings, is if we have had a squabble. The last thing I ever want my friends to do is to pick a side between my husband and I. From our standpoint, we are one, and we want to have a united front with others. We don't ever want to give anyone a reason to think ill of our beloved. That is between us. I am my husband's number one fan and likewise he is mine. We want to support and encourage each other. Proverbs 17:9 says, "Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends." We have seen other spouses speak none too kindly about their husbands or wives and it always leaves us sour. Ephesians 4:29 says, "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." We want our friends to have only grace and love for our beloved.

So be sure to be the team Christ intends you to be. Don't be in the tearing down business. Be in the building up business. Defend and support your beloved. Be the helpmate God hopes you will be for one another. Regardless of whether or not you have folks pick a side at the wedding ceremony, you don't want it to happen during the marriage.

Discussion: Have you ever heard a person in a couple talk poorly about their spouse? How did it make you feel? Why do you think it's important not to share negative information about your spouse?

Prayer: Lord God, help us to keep a united front, support each other, encourage each other and not speak disparagingly about one another. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.