…in only a few days….on this upcoming Saturday afternoon in the beautiful Virginia mountains my son, Abe will marry, Susan, the love of his life….
…it is a significant, life changing event…for Abe…for Susan….for those who love them…
and this wedding will complete the marriages of all three of my children…
after having lived through the difficult divorce of their own parents, these three adult children have courageously, sincerely, boldly chosen to love well….to be family…
it is, for me, a singular, momentous gift…
having witnessed the flaws and failures within their own parents it would have been understandable if they had chosen to be a bit calloused, a bit cynical about the values and commitment of forever love….
they didn’t…they chose to swim deeply in those unpredictable waters….to love well…and they do….every day….
and now all three of them…my son and two daughters have invested in healthy, honest to God adult relationships for some time now and they have taught me tons about loving well….
i am amazed….inspired….humbled….
and here’s something i have learned….often from watching them….
when i served as a staff pastor i often suggested to parents whose children were to be married that the best gift they could give them would be several appointments with a great counselor or coach or mentor…
i call these appointments “well baby check ups”
much like young parents who willingly schedule time and money to take their new babies to the doctor long before fevers appear…to be proactive…to check vitals and have immunizations administered to prevent life threatening disease….
new marriages benefit from strategically scheduled “well baby check ups”
i’m not sure why we seem to have a propensity to avoid much needed help until our relationships mirror stage four cancer…
especially when safe, confidential, objective help is available to aid us in navigating this thrilling, complicated roller coaster ride called “marriage and family”
everyone…absolutely everyone can benefit from a wise, objective, true listening ear and voice….
i know i have…
and i know my kids have…
i want them to have those persons on their team..cause loving well forever will require a team of sorts…it is tough to do it solo and it is best done with strong support and back up….
and on this upcoming Saturday…when we joyfully join together to witness and celebrate the decision Abe and Susan have made to love well….
my heart will soar because they, along with my daughters, have chosen to run strong…run true…run together….
with an immutable, incredible team of family and friends surrounding them…
Cheers!
