Our friends
Ralph and Daniela were married a few months ago. We first met Ralph in Boston
around 1996 at Park Street Church. At the time Ralph, who is German, was in the
States working for the Siemens Corporation. We met Daniela (Dani) last
Thanksgiving when she and Ralph visited the States, we were the final stop on
their itinerary and they shared a few days with us in our home - including Thanksgiving.
This was
poignant for us in two ways, the first was that it was one of the sweetest
Thanksgivings we’ve had for many years, not only did we have Ralph and Dani,
but other friends as well, friends who are very dear to us. None of these
friends knew each other when they arrived at our home, they were our
friends; but by the time they left they were friends with one another. It was
simply and deeply a beautiful day and it still warms our hearts.
The second
poignancy is that since we first met Ralph, he has shared Thanksgiving with us
on numerous occasions, for after he returned to Munich to continue his work
with Siemens he continued to fly over every few years to spend Thanksgiving
with us. When we know Ralph is coming, we decorate our home for Christmas for
him, which is quite the undertaking, especially for Vickie, since we have 8 or
9 themed Christmas trees, numerous nutcrackers, and other decorations. (In case
you’re wondering, we don’t do outside decorations other than a few items on the
front porch and candles in windows). Meeting Dani over Thanksgiving was perfect…just
perfect.
Not long after
their May 2020 marriage (which had to be rearranged because of Covid – 19 restrictions,
but which was still beautiful), Ralph took Dani climbing. Ralph is an avid
outdoorsman – bicycling, hiking, mountain climbing…and I do mean mountain climbing.
Dani did a post
on her Facebook page about the climb, and when Vickie told me about it, I said
something like this:
“Well, isn’t
that like Christ and the Church? When we are married to Him, He teaches us to go
higher and higher. He draws us to Himself and His Cross.”
Vickie said, “Look
at the photos.”
The Bride and Groom
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