to my son on your wedding day

Today you’re getting married. To this beautiful girl named Amy …

I can hardly believe it’s true.

And I’m sitting here in my hotel room with this sense that I need to be doing something, anything. Because isn’t that just like a mother? Always busy for her children?

But I’m realizing, it’s all done. This big, beautiful job of mothering you. C-o-m-p-l-e-t-e.

It’s time to let go. It’s time to let another woman know you and love you in a way that goes much deeper than a mother’s love. That’s kind of hard to say. But it’s true.

So it’s time for me to sit still and quiet. To stop working and rest. And if I’m honest … to listen to Sufjan Steven’s Holy, Holy, Holy one more time while I sip my coffee and let myself cry and cry and cry.

I never thought I’d rest from mothering. Never thought I’d stop worrying over you. Thinking of you. But this morning I am joyful in realizing today is the day. And I will rejoice.

Today is the day to rejoice in knowing you are a man who loves Jesus deeply, tenderly, tenaciously. A man who walked out the first 26 years of his life close to Christ and often apart from the crowd. Because you held the hope that this day would come. And it would be worth the wait.

Today is the day to rejoice in knowing your prayers (and ours) were answered.

And her name is Amy.

In this deep open space of rest, I want to make some promises to you and Amy. And I want to commit to new prayers based on God’s words.

I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. Jeremiah 24:7

I will pray that you and Amy will have one heart. You and Amy ~ one heart. Not me and dad and you and Amy … but you and Amy. And I pray that your dad and I would be gracious in understanding and accepting your life plans. Even if it doesn’t involve living in Austin. ;)

If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Romans 8:31-32

I pray that you and Amy would understand and feel God’s deep support. That in hard times you would cling to the truth that God is for you. And I want you to know your dad and I are for you. And just like God, there is nothing we wouldn’t give up for you. Nothing we wouldn’t sacrifice to support your marriage.

Will. I love you. And I love Amy.

And I rejoice.