Getting Married in the Morning-Finally!

James and Candi had been a solid couple for about six years.  They even had three adorable little children to show for it.  There was only one problem.  They had never gotten married.  Candi was Catholic and James was indifferent.  Life flew past with good times and bad, baby diapers, work and .....drugs.   

James was making some serious money selling drugs.  Candi worked a  real job and, between the two of them, the bills got paid.   Then it happened.  James got busted.  While sitting in Medina County Jail, his lawyers told James to prepare for 10-15 years in prison. 

What was Candi supposed to do?  Life just got very complicated, very fast.  What should Candi do to make ends meet?  Now she was going to be raising the children alone.  To make matters worse, James' children wouldn't even be able to visit him in federal prison since he and Candi weren't legally man and wife. 

James said that they should get married before he got sentenced for who-knows-how-long to who-knows where.   Like any woman who loves her man...Candi got busy.   She called the jail and spoke with Susan.  Susan said that she would have to get a federal judge to "order" the marriage.   Candi did that--amazingly!   Then Susan told her that the jail would have to transport her fiance to the courthouse for the license and she would have to work with the transport officers to coordinate arrival times at the court, etc.   Candi did that too.   Then Susan told her to have her priest get in contact with her to schedule the wedding.   That was the one thing Candi couldn't do.   No priest was interested in marrying James and Candi on such short notice under such unusual circumstances.   As Candi expressed her frustration over the phone to Susan time and time again,  Susan finally suggested a wedding in front of a mayor or judge and made some phone calls.   In December, Mayor Roberts was no longer doing that kind of thing.  Foiled again.  Candi was about to give up, when the sharp thinking of the jail administrator brought good news.  One of our county's judges was willing to have the ceremony in his chambers at 11am just two days before James would be sentenced.

Candi was ecstatic!    She enthused over her plans just like any bride-to-be.  Susan hated having to tell her the truth about a jail wedding.  Her husband would be wearing his jail uniform and they would be allowed to kiss.  End of ceremony.   After a thoughtful pause, Candi asked,  "Well, what do you think?   Should I wear my wedding dress?  Or would it be stupid?"

Ever the romantic, Susan boldly assured her, "Candi, if  you love this man as much as you say you do, then I think you should wear your dress!   It is for his eyes.   It is your only wedding and I think you should do whatever you feel up to!!"

The morning of the big day,  Susan and Larry were ready to go be witnesses at the wedding.  While it wasn't to be a Christian wedding,  they hoped to win a hearing from this young couple by their love and care.  Larry was going to take pictures and Susan was going to be the motherly "cry-er."  Susan sent Larry off to the jail with the womanly order, "Make sure the officers haven't forgotten about transporting  James to the judge!"   

Larry called from the jail.  "There's a problem,"  he said. 

"What could it be?"  Susan wanted to know. 

"Well, it seems the federal marshals won't allow the sheriff's department to take James to the judge.  So, there goes the wedding." 

"No, this can't end like this!"  Susan exclaimed rather heatedly.  "Talk to the administration, Larry.  You can do something."

In the meantime,  Susan had the awful task of calling Candi and telling her not to go to the courthouse.  Candi started crying.  "I knew this was too good to be true.  I knew I'd never get married."   Susan told her that she would pray for something to happen and to stay put for any solution that could be worked out.

The Lord answered this prayer through the judge.   He agreeably said that he would come to the jail and perform the ceremony there.   The wedding was still on for 11am.

Susan hurried to call Candi back.  "Hurray!  You're getting married today!"

Candi said, "I'm getting my dress on,  puttin' up my hair and I am coming to that jail--no matter what!!"

Susan rushed around mindlessly.  She's finally getting married!  She's finally getting married!  What to do?  What to do?  She ran to the store and bought a bouquet for the groom to give to the bride.   She bought wedding wrap and books about marriage to wrap as gifts for the couple.  Then she rushed to the jail only to find Larry counseling the groom who was looking sweaty and nervous.

The bride looked positively victorious!   This was a day LONG AWAITED in her heart!  She was getting married.  Finally!  And yes,  she wore her wedding gown.

The judge came in, looking official in his flowing black robes.  He provided the solemnity and the legality that this wedding cried out for to make it meaningful.  The vows were lovely. 

As Candi and James gazed into each other's eyes and exchanged their wedding rings, Candi shed bittersweet tears.  Larry and Candi's friend took pictures.  Some of the administration were the encouraging background guests.  Susan did her job too....she cried into some of the kleenex she had brought for Candi. 

After their vows were exchanged, the judge pronounced them man and wife.  They shared a kiss that would have to last until James got settled somewhere in a federal prison.  Candi sobbed and James whispered encouragement and love into her ear.   They opened the presents from Larry and Susan and laughed together over one of the book titles,  "How to be Happy Without Much Money."  All too soon the time was over and James was led away back to his cell.

Two days later, James was sentenced to 11 years in prison.  With good time and a few special programs he will be away from his new wife and children for a little more than 8 years. He had gotten the best sentence possible under federal guidelines. 

Surprisingly, it took the marshals over a month to come and take James away from us.  He started coming out to church and Bible studies, probably as a way to say thank you to Larry.  Susan called for him one day to see if he had any questions about what he was hearing and to tell him how much she admired the spirit of his wife.

Then James gave Susan the best of all news. He told her that he had asked Jesus to be his Savior. 

Please pray for James as he left us in mid-January.  Pray that there would be decent Christian programming where he will stay.  Pray for Candi, that Susan could keep in touch with her and perhaps have the honor of sharing Christ with her.   Pray for the children who are without their father, that God would be their father as He promises in His Word.