“Are you ready?”
“Yes, Dad. I’m ready.”
He was moments away from walking me down the aisle and giving me away.
I can’t imagine how he was feeling. It must be quite daunting to let go of your daughter, yet fulfilling, to know you’ve done everything you can to raise your little girl into the woman she is meant to be.
For over twenty years, my dad invested time, money, energy into my life, and he trusted that he did his duty well as a father and empowered me to be a wife with good character.
In Genesis 2:24, God says, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
I was leaving the comfort of my home, where at a moment’s notice, I could find wise counsel, and now I was about to start a new family.
So what was Dad’s role going to look like now?
Months and days leading up to that morning, my parents set expectations regarding the role they would play in our marriage.
Since I grew up in a close knit family, it was difficult to accept that there would be changes. It would be so different not be able to constantly go to them for the small things….
What do I do if my tire goes flat?
What are the spices again for that curry?
How often does the car need an oil change?
It was my husband’s turn to answer those questions and take the lead. Although I knew that I could always pick up the phone and call my parents, there was now a new leader in my home.
After a decade of marriage now, I appreciate how my parents and in-laws have contributed to our marriage.
- I am grateful that they trust my husband to make the major decisions for our family and be the Godly authority figure over me.
- They have encouraged us over the years to spend time with each other and with our children and not allow work to consume our time.
- They have been a listening ear when we asked for wise counsel.
- Even when they didn’t agree with every decision we made as a family, they have respected us. They have given us the space to make our own choices.
- Most importantly, they pray for our family life.
One day, I will need to make the tough choice to step aside and allow my children the same opportunity, to live their lives with the fundamental principles I am teaching them today.
If I can teach them to love God, love people, and always put Jesus first, I know that they’ll be just fine, because it all starts with that solid foundation. For now, I will pray for them and for their future spouses and that their family lives glorify God.
Then, one day, I know they’ll be ready.
~Elizabeth (Betsy)
