Somewhere In the World

We go to a lot of weddings, and I must say, I love it! This past weekend we traveled to Michigan for the wedding of one of our former "kids." His parents are dear friends of ours, as well, so it was a true joy to celebrate with these two families as God joined their children's lives as one.

While it's no secret that I'm a sentimental sap, I've typically reacted to weddings with a few unshed tears during the ceremony. But this weekend was different. The emotion came on strong. undeniable. It was hard to hold back.

Perhaps it's because we've known and loved the groom for so long. We watched him grow up.

Perhaps it's because we're close friends of his parents, and my heart was seeking to empathize with their hearts...especially his mom's. She's a mom of boys, too, and I've watched the way she and her husband have walked with, trained, and nurtured their sons over the years.

Perhaps it's because my heart was so overjoyed to see how God had so perfectly brought these two lives together.

Yes, the emotion was likely due to all these things. Yet there was something more.

Since my husband is most often officiating at the weddings we attend, I'm often left alone with my thoughts and prayers. Sitting in the pew, watching these beautiful events unfold before me, I'm looking back. I'm remembering. And I'm looking ahead. And as I sat in the pew of that little white chapel this weekend, I was strongly aware of the fact that I'm no longer a mother of "little boys." With one son about to begin high school, I'm keenly sensitive to the quick passage of time. Just 4 years from now he'll be going off to college. And one by one, his brothers will follow.

And one day, Lord-willing, they'll bring home the young women who have captured their hearts.

Yep, it's not far away. Not really.

Since our boys were babies, I've been praying for their future spouses. In fact, a couple years ago I casually mentioned this to one of our sons as we drove down the road. Yeah, he was somewhat appalled (as most pre-teen boys would be). He responded by saying, "Don't you think it's kinda early?"

Maybe in his mind. But not in mine. Nope, I've been praying for their future wives for years: that they'd place their faith and trust in Christ alone; that they'd follow hard after Him and desire Him above all else; that they'd be growing in Biblical womanhood---that they'd develop the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit; that God would protect their bodies, hearts, and minds.

Yes. Somewhere out there are the three young girls who will one day capture the hearts of my three sons. And as I pray for my sons, I pray for the daughters-in-law I don't yet know. May each of their them find their joy, their satisfaction, and their identity in knowing, loving, and following after their Creator God.

Somewhere In the World by Wayne Watson

Somewhere in the world today
A little girl will go out to play
All dressed up in mama's clothes
At least the way that I suppose it goes
Somewhere in the world tonight
Before she reaches to turn out the light
She'll be prayin' from a tender heart
A simple prayer that's a work of art

And I don't even know her name
But I'm prayin' for her just the same
That the Lord will write His name upon her heart
'Cause somewhere in the course of this life
My little boy will need a godly wife
So hold on to Jesus, Baby, wherever you are

Somewhere in the world out there
That little girl's learnin' how to care
She's pickin' up her mamas charms
Or maybe, swingin' 'round in her daddy's arms
Somewhere in the world to be
Though the future's not really clear to me
Their's could be a tender love
Grounded in eternal love above