The Greatest Gift

We received many wonderful gifts for the wedding. Some big... some small, but all wonderful. There is one gift however, that will always stand out in our minds. It was the most wonderful gift we could have ever received. It came from almost complete strangers and was more loving and generous than we could have ever imagined and one we will ALWAYS be so very grateful for. We were given the wonderful gift of MUSIC at the wedding. Let me explain.

About a year ago, our parish held their annual fundraiser. Doug and I (well at least me!) had been looking forward to this fundraiser. I had chaired the event the year before and had always been on the committee in the previous years, so I was looking forward to just sitting back and enjoying the event with no responsibilities at all! My Christ Re.news His Pa.rish (CRHP) team and their hubbies were all going and we were going to have a blast with them. I was also excited to bid on a few items. They were offering the full choir from our parish, along with fantastic musicians, for a special mass or a concert for the highest bidder. I thought it would be PERFECT for the wedding! They are AMAZING! They sang for the pope and sound so spectacular. I did know that they would be going for a high price, probably much higher than our budget would allow. But we thought we would try anyway. If we didn't win, we would just go a different route.

So... the bidding began! I stopped around $600! I just knew I couldn't go higher. Bummer. Then my CRHP sisters started bidding for me! They had planned it all along! We were bidding against a lady, we will call her Sue, who is in the choir!! It was tense! She'd bid, they'd bid... over and over. Finally, she won... at $1100! Yay for her... major bummer for us! My MOH and I saw her a bit later that night and asked what she was planning to use the choir for. After all... She is in the choir! She wouldn't say... just said she had something special planned. My MOH (after a few glasses of wine!) mentioned that we had been hoping to use the choir for the wedding. We all wished her congratulations and thought that was the end of it.

About a month later, Sue called me. She told me that her and her husband had decided they wanted to GIVE Doug and I the gift of the choir for the wedding! I started crying! How could they both be so generous? We were strangers to them! She told me that the original event that was planned was no longer going to be taking place. They had prayed about it and decided the choir needed to be used at an event that represented love and joy and that our wedding was the perfect occasion! She kept saying, "Please say yes! Do this for me!" Well of course I said yes! I was in total awe of their generosity! She said she would email the choir director and get everything in motion. The email read:

"I keep forgetting to let you know that I purchased the auction item for the choir to sing at an event of my choice. My husband and I were very excited to have the choir sing at the baptism of our child and I eagerly bid on the item. Unfortunately, you know the outcome of my pregnancy, but God works in weird ways and I hope I am listening to Him correctly on this one. Here’s the story…

On the night of the auction, I bid quite vigorously against Jenny and her CRHP sisters. I knew how much I was going for and out bid her in the end. Jenny was bidding on the choir for her own wedding ceremony in November of this year. Anyway, I think since I am not going to use this for what was my sole purpose in bidding on it in the first place, that it is only right for Jenny to use it. I know it meant so much to her for the choir to sing at her wedding.

It would really make the horrible news of this week change into something good. It would be wonderful to have the choir sing at something so joy filled and full of love! So, it may be my check that paid for the auction item, but I want Jenny to plan it out as though she paid for the auction item – not me.

Romans 8:28 We know that all things work for good for those who love God

Jenny – enjoy! I'm sure you're wedding will be wonderful! I cannot wait to be there singing as you and Doug are united in Holy Matrimony. It will be a glorious day!"

Isn't that AMAZING!!?? I read that email and just cried and cried. I was so sad for their loss. I was so humbled by their gift. I was so in awe of their giving nature, their faith, their love. Every time I think about it, I am amazed! The choir was every thing I had ever hoped for! It meant so much having the choir sing, especially knowing the meaning behind it. The music was fantastic. The choir not only sang for us, but did this for Sue and her husband. I saw Sue briefly after the wedding... we hugged and both cried. What a beautiful gift!! Here are some pictures of the choir from the wedding...