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In-loves

by James Watkins    

Another advantage of being an ordained dad with a weekly column is that you can share the joy and pain of the wedding day joy from Faith's good choices throughout her life and pain from eating too much chocolate cake with a few thousand readers.

Here's what I said to the beautiful bride Saturday:

Faith, when you backed into the world (you were born breech), I wrote the following song for you:

Hello, little blue eyes

staring off in space.

I wonder what the future holds,

what kind of world you'll face?

But there's one thing that you can count on

no matter what you do,

a love you can depend upon,

'tween your parents, God, and you

.

Hello, little blue eyes

reaching out your hand,

I wonder what you'll find to hold

on life's shifting sand?

But there's one thing that you can count on

no matter what you do,

a love you can depend upon,

'tween your parents, God, and you.

So good night little daughter,

Close your eyes of royal blue,

You're safe within the bond of love,

'tween your parents, God, and you.

Over the years, I've discovered that isn't exactly true.

To that small group of just four (or six depending on your theology), others have been added to protect and provide for you--grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, friends, church nursery workers, pastors, doctors, Sunday school teachers, day care instructors, a brother, schoolteachers and bus drivers, youth leaders, driver's ed. instructors, college professors, and now Mike and the extended Spaulding family.

It's not always been easy for us, as Mom and Dad, to entrust you to the care of others.

We've seen all those hidden-camera TV investigations of day care centers. You had to be interviewed by a social worker when one of your elementary school friend's father was discovered to be a child molester. You went to Washington DC, "the nation's murder capital," with your eighth grade class-with chaperones who looked like they were just out of eighth grade. You had one date with a student who threatened to blow up your high school. You roamed the streets of south Chicago as a college assignment. And you emailed home that you had found the man of your dreams--several times.

Fortunately, by the grace of God, you've come through each of those experiences unharmed. Mom and Dad have aged considerably, but you've come through unharmed.

So today, I'll need to rewrite that twenty-two-year-old song.

You're safe within the bond of love, 'tween your parents . . .

. . . grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, friends, pastors, doctors, teachers, brother, everyone in this packed-out church, Mike, the entire Spaulding family . . .

. . . God and you.

So, to each of you, our heart-felt thanks for joining us in the bond of those given the privilege of providing for and protecting this precious couple.

And "Thank you, Father, Faith's not marrying the high school terrorist."


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James N. Watkins Reprinted with permission from www.jameswatkins.com