On Saturday, I will be giving my beautiful daughter away in marriage to the young man in this picture…Paul Tice. For over 20 years I have been praying for this day. (Maybe fearing it as well.) For 20 years I have asked the Lord to provide His choice for my daughter. For 20 years Lisa and I have tried to instill values, skills, and a godly perspective in our daughter. We have tried to model what a healthy, Jesus following marriage looks like so that she would know what to create in her own marriage someday. We have always believed that if we model the right stuff in front of our kids, they would catch the real thing. They would be infected with the right convictions that would bless their lives. After 20 years of praying and practicing these convictions, I am here to tell you that it works!
I am flooded with a multitude of emotions contemplating the fact that my little girl will no longer be under my roof and under my protection. There is one emotion though that is completely void from Lisa and I. That emotion is regret. We trusted the Lord in raising our children. We invested in them the best way we knew how. Although we were far from perfect, we were faithful. Now we are harvesting the beautiful results of a life that attempts to live God’s way. The blessing of a godly young woman marrying a godly young man who together, are attempting to begin a bran new journey learning how to do life God’s way. Their future is filled with hope, promise, and the expectation of God’s blessing. Why? Because that’s what they saw in mom and dad. Obedience equals blessing!
For all you weary parents out there trying to be faithful, I know it’s hard. I realize there are many distractions. I understand that it’s painful at times. BUT, please hear me loud and clear. The sacrifice is worth the future blessing! It works… and it’s worth it! Someday you can be watching your son or daughter begin their own new journey with their spouse and have no regrets…only blessing. Living life God’s way really does work. If we delight ourselves in the Lord He will truly give us the desires of our heart. I can’t even imagine my desires being more fulfilled!
Thank you Lord for Your extreme faithfulness!
Pastor Dale
