If the groom isgone and the bride is left alone, what should those in the wedding party do?How should those who are left behind feel? What consolation do we have?

Perhaps we could follow the example of ayoung woman named Anne Steele. Miss Steele encountered one trial anddisappointment after another. Being a devout Christian, she continuously soughtto praise God—even in sorrow. She was engaged to be married, and had lookedforward to her wedding day with eagerness. The big day finally arrived and sodid the guests—but the groom was missing. After about an hour of waiting, amessenger brought the tragic news that Anne's fiancé had drowned. The suddenshock was almost too much for her, but after a while she regained her spiritualcomposure.

Later Anne Steele penned the song that isstill found in many hymnbooks:

Give me a calm, athankful heart

From ev'ry murmurfree;

The blessing ofThy grace impart,

And make me liveto Thee.

That's what those who are left behind should do,give God thanks for the moments of grace that have been shared: for friendship,children, and a life lived with expectation and love.

That's also what the church is doing. We arethanking God every day and walking with him in our spirit. The song writersaid, "I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses Andthe voice I hear, falling on my ear The Son of God discloses And He walks withme and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own; and the joy we share aswe tarry there None other has ever known."

As Christians, we are always saddened when wethink of the bridegroom, Christ, leaving us. The pain of the loss of the saviorin the flesh is overcome only when we remember that he is coming back again tocomplete the ceremony and to take his bride at last.