A week from now it will all be over. My duties as the father of the bride discharged: my speech delivered, the bank transfers completed; my little Esther – whom I have watched grow and develop over all these years – no longer just my little girl, but a grown, married woman.
And I will be left to wonder where those years have gone, to reflect back – with love and joy, pride and wonder – on all those wonderful times when I have held her close, celebrated her achievements, laughed at her antics, agonised over her struggles, and cried with her heartaches.
I will look ahead too, to the wonderful new journey she and Rob are setting out on: a lifelong pilgrimage of joys and sorrows, fun and hard work. I will pray with hope that their journey will be a good one, that they will know the blessings I have known both with Helen over all those years, and now with Lois: the tender moments; the shared struggles; the celebrations.
But for now, I am still the father of the bride to be. So I will wipe away those tears, put the finishing touches to my speech, check our last minute preparations, and look forward to a very special day.