The December 2020 issue of Indiana Prairie Farmer featured my column about my husband, Terry, and now son-in-law Kegan, tearing down old sheds, building a large cross from them, and permanently standing the cross in our yard for our daughter Lillian and Kegan’s wedding.

I will never forget the morning I woke up to the sounds of hammering outside the bedroom window, followed shortly by Terry coming in to tell me to go look at his project. As I stood at the foot of the 9-by-12-foot cross lying on the ground, and amid wedding and emotional stress, I felt the Lord speak into my heart, “I am the Center of the Marriage and the wedding. It’s all about Me.”

I again became emotional when one of my dedicated readers, Albert Mayes, of Hillsboro, Ind., recently messaged me on how moved he was about the idea of the cross.

“You don’t know me personally; I know of you and Terry through farming and the Emmaus community,” he began. “One of your Prairie Farmer articles touched me and my family. You wrote an article about how Terry made a cross for your daughter’s wedding. After reading the article, it gave me the idea for my granddaughter’s wedding.

“She decided to have her wedding and reception at our farm. I had rough-saw lumber cut from our farm. I decided to make a cross for the backdrop of the ceremony. It turned out perfect. I wanted to say ‘thank you’ for the idea. I was not trying to copy, but it was a great idea and very special! Thanks again, and it’s always fun to read your writings.”

God’s blessings to Mr. Mayes’ granddaughter and her new husband. Indiana Prairie Farmer brings people together in a variety of ways. But more importantly, the cross and all it represents brings us together eternally.

Hayhurst writes from Terre Haute, Ind.