Maid of Honour

When Kimberley asked me to be her maid of honour, I was super excited and felt very privileged.  I had a vague idea of what being a maid of honour was all about but as the months of wedding planning went by I got a much clearer idea.

A great commission 

Maid: a woman or girl employed to do domestic work, an unmarried girl or woman especially when young

Honour: hold in great respect, hold in high esteem, have a high regard for, look up to, think highly of;

Kimberley was asking me to take up a role of great love and service. Thank you for that privilege *wait, it’s a privilege to be a servant???* Yes, there is no greater privilege than to serve –the time and hard labour is nothing compared to the great love you have for the one you are serving.

I want to share with you the speech that I gave at Kimberley’s wedding, I was extremely nervous and was almost too scared to share it but I am glad I did :)

Maid of Honour Speech

Good Afternoon all, for those that don’t know me my name is Daisy and I have known Kimberley and Chiawuotu since 2009 I met them both at the Advanced Centre of Evangelism (ACE) (I actually met Chiawuotu first and Kimberley later on). However today I stand here as Kimberley’s maid of honour so the words I will share today will be directed towards Kimberley. When I first met Kimberley I didn’t speak to her much but I noticed straight away that she had a very close relationship with God and I remember she used to always refer to God in the second person. She would say things like “…When I was speaking to Him this morning…” or “I think so but I need to ask Him first”. To me it was quite remarkable to see a young person relate to God in such a close way.

Walking in happiness

Our friendship has grown tremendously over the years and Kimberley has become more than a friend to me, even more than a sister. She has always challenged me unto good works and has been one of the most influential characters in my walk with God. God has definitely given her a heart of service and love for her fellowmen. I remember during ACE, I asked Kimberley to wake me up every morning at 5am as at that time I wasn’t a morning person, and she committed to that every morning even when I didn’t want to get up. She taught me how to play guitar, she also taught me how to cook -I knew how to cook already but she taught me the science of cooking e.g how to develop recipes, how to experiment with ingredients, how to preserve food and stop wastage and also how to recover a failing recipe. Both Kimberley and Chiawuotu love cooking and are very gifted in this area so I pray that this is something they can work together on in order to help teach and minister to others. God has given Kimberley a passion for helping those she loves to grow and develop and those one to one sessions that I had with her I will always treasure.

It’s interesting because one of my most treasured memories was when Kimberley and Tara Marie came to visit me and somehow ended up living in my house for some time. It literally was the three of us in my room rotating between 2 single beds. And at night we would talk and talk and Kimberley would always be the one to say (in her sweet voice) “Ok can we go to sleep now and talk in the morning”. I remember going to get each of them a key cut and till this day my parents are still like “how did we let you get away with that”?!?!?! Nevertheless that was such a precious time in our friendship. 

Maid of Honour

But on a more serious note –

I have committed to pray for Kimberley every day during this wedding season and one of the things that God keeps bringing to my mind when I am praying for her union with Chiawuotu is Kimberley’s service as a missionary. Now when we think of missionaries we imagine someone who travels to foreign lands, who helps build schools and teach the bible to those who don’t have access to it; And Kimberley has definitely been involved in these things. However I think Kimberley’s biggest mission field, whether she realises it or not, has been the home.

I remember when Kimberley decided to look after a lady called Camille, who was quite ill, and she stayed in her house and helped her with the running of the home and also worked with her children. Shortly after that she decided to move to Leicester to look after her Grandfather. It’s interesting because I remember you  telling me the story of when you and your  family went to visit him and how you  felt when you all were waving him Goodbye and how your heart was touched and how you knew that God was calling you to move to Leicester to be with your Granddad. God has been very faithful to you Kimberley and we thank him for giving you the opportunity and the grace to make those sacrifices, to give of yourself and to put your wants and perhaps needs aside for the sake of someone else. I know that in both situations it wasn’t always easy and you met some challenges but I definitely believe that you learnt some enduring lessons on how to bring Christ into the home not only for your joy but for the joy of others. Often we want to do a big work with the masses and the most humblest work is often slighted, but Kimberley you have been faithful in the least and now God has blessed you with much. He has given you an even greater mission field, your own home with your husband Chiawuotu. I pray that you remember and implement everything that God has taught you while labouring for Camille and your granddad. All those lessons of kindness, forbearance, meekness, humility, patience, compassion and love - that they will be principle pillars of your home. Nothing is by chance Kimberley, God has been preparing you for this moment for a long time and we thank him so much for he provides for us even before we even think or ask. 

A precious gift and a promise from a special friend

Kimberley, my dearest, I love you. I praise God for this union and for this journey that you have begun I pray that all the blessings that God intends to bestow on the marriage union will be yours as you faithful walk together with the Lord bringing him into your home and your hearts daily. [Speech ends]

Kimberley it was such a blessing to serve you for these few months and not only to serve you as a dear friend and sister but to plan with you, talk with you, rush around with you, stress with you, pray with you…it was truly an honour. 

Forever Friends

Love you forever Kimberley Ham-Ying, oops I mean, Anyanwu :)

♥ Miss Daisy ♥