It was the most amazing day! My little girl, now 24 years old, no longer bears our last name. I walked her down the aisle and gave her hand to a wonderful man of God. They exchanged vows and now my little girl is the new Mrs James Sral. It is stunning to think about. I thought I would be a basket case but instead I was proud and pleased, excited for this wonderful moment in her life. I had the traditional opportunity to speak at the reception and offered these words (well, more than what is below, but this is the important part)
Lauren and James, I want to share a few reflections from the past 24 and a half years and they include some words of wisdom that I want to pass along. My prayer is that you will be encouraged and guided by these words.
On Christmas Eve in 1990 I drove my wife to the hospital and as midnight approached we were in labor. I say we because we were working as a team, her giving birth and me working to relieve the pain in her back. It was exhausting but well worth it. Just 45 minutes into Christmas day Lauren arrived. I believe we disturbed the peaceful state she had been in prior to her arrival. The picture snapped moments after she was born is our evidence. She had one eye open glaring at us like “Really? I was so comfortable in there!” Something profound hit me within a day or so that I want you to know. As I stood holding my firstborn in my arms and looking down into her eyes, I was conscious of the profound love that I felt for her. She was ours, the outcome of our love. The word “precious” does not begin to describe how we both felt about Lauren. Then something hit me like a ton of bricks. The love that I felt for my daughter was nothing in comparison to the love that God has for each of us! God loves Lauren more than I ever could! James and Lauren, I want you to remember that when you gaze into each other eyes. The deep love that God gave you for one another is but a tiny fraction of the love he has for you both! Remind each other of that often and you will grow stronger as a couple.
James, you should know that Lauren fell in love with music as a child. I’m not sure if we contributed to that as we took her to a Mannheim Steamroller concert when she was in the womb. She moved a lot during that concert. We surrounded her with all kinds of music as a child. We nurtured her love of singing with Veggie Tales tunes where she even learned that God is bigger than the Boogie man. She loved being in choirs and musicals in school. It only seems fitting that she married a musician. I know music will be a big part of your life together, especially as you teach her to play the Bass guitar. I expect a performance at some point when we come visit. Maybe if you jam out The Commodores… “Brick House” I can dance to it.
Lauren, I don’t remember if I ever told you what I went through after you graduated from high school and we dropped you off at the airport, for you to spend a year in England. Knowing we would not see you until Christmas and you living 4000 miles away was so different to most parents dropping off their first born at college a few hundred miles away. We were excited for you and I did not want to get all teary eyed because I wanted you to be excited for where God had called you to be. I did not want you to be homesick either. Yet for weeks I was in a funk – like nothing I had ever felt. Then you emailed me a poem and some pictures. One of the photos went well with the poem. It was you lying in my arms on the couch. Your bright eyes were open and looked so contented. The poem says something that I have been thinking about a lot lately because it talks about our similarities and common interests.
Daddy’s Little Girl
We share the same eyes,
They show how big our hearts are.
Yet yours also show how deep your thoughts go.
We share the same interests,
They tie our friendship together.
Yet your interests are my inspirations to what I enjoy.
When people meet me, they notice our similarities,
They seem to shine through stronger than the differences.
Yet those differences total as very few.
As I grow older, I hope we never grow apart,
Our bond is too strong for that to happen.
I may be getting older, but I am still your little girl.
Like your mother and I did, you two are starting new jobs in a new state, just weeks after getting married. Your new life together is new in so many ways! You are going to do youth ministry at Christ Church. I went to do that for a church of the same name. I never in a million years expected to have a child follow in my footsteps, but that is so much of what you are doing… You were even hired by the same pastor who hired me nearly 20 years ago. Here is the wildest thing… the other photo you sent with the poem was of you as a toddler walking (or attempting to walk) in my shoes. I pray that your experience as you start your new life together and new ministry will be as richly rewarding as mine was. It will be challenging and at times very hard – but always worth it.
James, I saw something in you as soon as I met you and started to get to know you. I have to admit I was impressed. Very impressed in fact. You have a determination about you that when you set your eyes on something, you give it your all. Your relentless pursuit of your dreams and goals will get you far in life. That encourages me! You will be a good husband, provider for your family, and will see success in life due to that quality about you. But more specifically I was aware of how you set your eyes on Lauren and pursued her. She was reluctant to start a relationship… but you were patient and determined. You romanced her and won her heart. I know this because she called me and asked for my advice when you first made the effort. I want to encourage you to never stop pursuing Lauren’s heart. The reality of a healthy marriage is that the courtship never ends.
Oh, and I suspect you have already figured out that Lauren’s love language is gifts. She loves giving and receiving. You may have noticed her big eyes during the almost daily arrival of wedding gifts in recent months. It was like Christmas was ongoing at our house! Y’all will have to figure out how to express that love language on a limited budget but it can be done with creativity.
Her mother and I will be praying that you two continually grow in your love as you settle into new jobs and a new life in Atlanta. We are excited that you will be part of a solid church and there are some people who are very dear to us who will be looking out for you. We love you both and wish you both all the best!
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