I Had Her First...

Put some kids and a few toys together, and it won't be long until you hear, "It's mine! I had it first!" The argument always starts when one child decides to take the toy that another child has been playing with. Strangely, that is what I felt on Friday evening just an hour or so before I performed the ceremony that united my precious daughter, Rachel, to her fiance, Brian. The beaming mother of the bride had come into the church auditorium and grabbed my hand, then led me to the room where Rachel and her attendants had been busily getting ready for the event. When I walked through the door, there was my little girl - and all I can say is that I have never seen her more beautiful. Needless to say, the hug was long and the tears were falling.

The thought then occurred to me that I got to see her in her wedding dress before Brian did. But, that is only right, isn't it? I was the first man to hold her. I was the first man to dance around a room with her. I was the first man to wipe the tears from her eyes. I was the first man she said, "I love you" to. I had her first! But, then I remembered that ultimately, she wasn't mine. She belongs to her Creator, the One who formed her in the womb, and has every day of her life written in a book. And, on the page marked "October 15, 2010", the story of Rachel's life tells of how the one who had her first, humbly gives her to the one who will have her for the rest of her life. Brian has her now, and I will step back and be the #2 guy. I'm okay with that, because I know Who is writing the story, and He always does things perfect.

For twenty special years, she was mine. Thank you, Lord, for letting me have her first.