This past weekend, Joey and Karla were married—outdoors—on a day shaped by an Arctic blast that brought historically low temperatures and cutting winds. It was the kind of cold that settles deep into your bones and makes you question every decision that led you outside.
And yet, no amount of freezing wind could diminish the love and support that surrounded them.
God did not raise the temperature or still the winds that day. Instead, He was present among us in a deeper, quieter way. Scripture tells us that “The Lord is near to all who call on Him” (Psalm 145:18), and His nearness was unmistakable. He warmed our hearts even as the air remained bitter. He strengthened our spirits. He gave us fortitude and grit—the grace to endure discomfort for the sake of something far greater.
As I looked out over the guests during the ceremony, I didn’t just see people trying to stay warm. I saw family and friends living out the truth of Romans 12:15—“Rejoice with those who rejoice.” They were bundled together, leaning in close, sharing blankets and body heat, bearing the cold together rather than retreating from it. Strategically placed heaters helped. Blankets handed out before the ceremony helped too. But what stood out most was who was there.
Among the guests were grandparents in their 80s and 90s—people who, by any reasonable standard, had no business sitting outside in those conditions. And yet, nothing was going to stop them from watching their grandchildren get married. Their presence was a living picture of covenant love—steadfast, sacrificial, and enduring. “Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it” (Song of Songs 8:7). Not even an Arctic wind.
The message of the ceremony came from Genesis 2:24: leave, cleave, and become one. And in many ways, Joey and Karla embodied that message before they ever spoke their vows. They left comfort behind. They cleaved to one another with resolve. And together, surrounded by faith and community, they stepped into oneness.
I will always remember this wedding—not primarily because of the venue, though it was beautiful, nor because of the reception, though we had an absolute blast. I will remember it because of the people who showed up. Family and friends who were fully determined to be there for Joey and Karla on their special day—no matter what.
In a world that often chooses comfort over commitment, this wedding was a quiet but powerful testimony: love shows up. Love endures. Love stays.
And in the bitter cold, it was love that warmed us most.
A Pastoral Blessing for Joey and Karla
Joey and Karla, on a cold and windswept day, you stood before God and His people and lived out the words of Scripture: “A man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one” (Genesis 2:24). You left comfort behind, you cleaved to one another, and together you became one.
May the God who strengthened you that day strengthen you in every season of your marriage. When leaving is costly and cleaving requires perseverance, may Christ hold you fast. May your home be filled with grace, joy, and faithfulness. And when the winds of life rise, may you always remember how love—rooted in Christ—carried you through.
Amen.