The Old Testament Prayer

On the 20th of December 2002, Tjark and I got married. We had planned this marriage all by ourselves with the support of our families. It was a beautiful day. I was the first in my family to marry. My father was especially enthusiastic, and he shared with me his biggest wish. He would love to see me get married in a white bridal koto. The koto is a traditional piece of clothing worn by creole women in Suriname. Unfortunately for him, I decided to wear a very elegant white wedding dress with a silver tiara on my head and a white tulle veil. I thought I was beautiful. Tjark was dressed in a neat white suit with a cobalt blue shirt. White and cobalt blue, those were the colors of our wedding. We had two wedding cakes: one made typically according to Nickerian-Guyanese tradition and a more classic wedding cake.

Out of all the presents we received that day, the beautifully framed Old Testament Prayer was the most special. We received it from the manager of my former job as project coordinator for a well-known women’s organization in Suriname. The prayer is powerful. I have strong feelings when reading the words and they mostly give me peace. When my manager gave it to me, she said that I should always display it in a prominent place in the house, so that it could hang over our marriage as an eternal blessing. And that has always been how I placed it in the house, prominent and visible for everyone and positioned in such a way that it watches over us. We received the prayer together with a beautifully hand-painted Chinese vase. Both have always traveled with us to our new homes.