Selida Renee wandered down the sandy beach toward the emerald green waters of the cay. This spot held her heart in its grip. Growing up on the island behind her had always been magical to her. She dreaded what lay ahead. Anxiously, she waited for her love to come to her; to reassure her that all would be well.
Never had she dreamed that she would one day have to leave the place that had been home since her birth. Nor, had she in her wildest nightmares imagined that she would one day leave Jared, the love of her life, behind.
Having missionary parents had always been a source of joy to her; and perhaps of more pride than she’d realized. Her father had come to the islands fresh out of Seminary to work with the people who’d captured his heart through the magic of books and stories for as long as he could remember. David had been there less than a month when he met and fell in love with the beautiful island girl Deliba. He led Deliba and her family to the Lord and the two of them were married within the year. In their second year of marriage their daughter Selida was born.
For nearly twenty years, David and Deliba lived amongst her people teaching them of the wonderful love of Jesus Christ. They led many of the islanders to know the Lord. It wasn’t until Deliba had come down with ovarian cancer this past year that they had ever imagined leaving their life work behind. And now, with Selida nearing the tender age of eighteen, and in love with the young associate minister who worked with David, they found their lives being changed forever. They were going on furlough and moving back to the mainland; taking Selida with them.
Selida kicked at a salmon colored conch shell that lay in her path. “I don’t want to leave my island, Lord. But even more, I don’t want to leave Jared behind. Oh, I know that he can carry on the work of my father. He is more than prepared to shoulder the load. But what of me, Lord? I am too old to be content with a move to new surroundings and a change in lifestyle. And yet I am too young by my parent’s standards to marry and live here on the island; continuing to help with the needs of our people. Help me Lord to know your will for my life.”
Sinking down on a large piece of driftwood, she stared into the distance, hardly seeing the white capped waves crashing over the rocky reef that separated the cay from the greater ocean beyond. Lazy seagulls weaved an intricate pattern above her dark head. However, she was oblivious to their antics. Tears ran in rivulets down her cheeks as she grieved for what was to come, and what was soon to be lost. She grieved for her mother, who without a miracle would surely die. And, she grieved for the way of life as she knew it that was being swept from her, like the tide washing out to sea.
Sensing Jared close by, she turned and spotted him cresting the sands behind her. As he drew closer, he waved a greeting. Standing, she swiped at the traces of tears with the back of her hand. Her long eyelashes glistened still with teardrops that clung stubbornly to their length.
Jared pulled her into his strong embrace, wrapping his sun kissed arms tightly around her. Whispering into Salida’s hair, he vowed, “I will never leave you nor forsake you, my love. Go now to your father’s homeland and know that before a year has turned, I will be there to claim your hand in marriage. Regardless of the outcome of your mother’s illness, we will continue to serve our people together. Be strong my love. A year will pass quickly with all that you must do. Even as the sands of time run swiftly, so too will the hours pass. And then I will come for you.”
And now, it was a year beyond that dreadful time of parting. The sands had indeed run through the hour glass and her mother was now with the Lord above. And Jared, well he had kept his word. He had come for her. He brought her back to their island. The time was fast approaching when her father would give her hand to Jared in marriage; there on the sands of the beautiful island cay that’d held her heart from the beginning.
As the wind entangled her long dark hair with the creamy white of her veil, she stared out to sea. She was sure that her mother’s voice whispered in the warm trade winds. “I am glad for you my child. My prayer is that you and Jared may know the joy and fulfillment that your father and I knew in serving these people together. I wish you great happiness on your wedding day. I love you, my Selida, to forever and beyond.” With a sigh, Selida strained to hear more, but the words from her mother faded on the breeze.
Hearing her father and Jared talking as they came across the sands toward her, Salida turned; she smiled as she held her hands out to her love. Grasping her fingers tightly, Jared smiled down into Selida’s glowing brown eyes. Together they turned to face their family and friends.
Her father spoke the words clearly and firmly, “Dearly beloved, today we are gathered together to join in holy matrimony, Jared and my lovely daughter Salida Renee . . .”