Go Beyond

Friday, November 7 will no longer be just another day on my family’s calendar. This once-ordinary day has taken on new significance. It will forever be the day on which my son Jonathan and his fiancé Aubrey Williams made a commitment to one another in the presence of God to begin their journey through life as husband and wife.

The late Steve Jobs said that you can only connect the dots by looking back. He was right. As Aubrey’s family and mine look back over the years we can more clearly see and connect the dots that resulted in Jonathan and Aubrey meeting one another and falling in love. Each of those dots represent the providential working of God to guide Jonathan and Aubrey toward one another.

This sentiment was expressed in the lyrics of Rascal Flatt’s song entitled “Bless the Broken Road.” There is a beautiful line in this song that says “God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you.” We all travel broken roads at one time or another — roads that are so rough that we can become disoriented, difficult roads that make us wonder if we’ll ever arrive at our destination, if we’ll ever find what we’re longing for.

My son Jonathan traveled over a broken road through a prodigal period — dark and difficult days that frightened and concerned us. There were many days when my biggest fear was that I might have to do his funeral. In the midst of those days I never expected that I would one day officiate at his wedding. But God in His kindness took care of Jonathan and rescued and restored him.

I’m glad that the broken road Jonathan traveled led him to Aubrey, someone whom God used to help him see the future more clearly. Looking back over those years, it’s clear that God preserved his life for a special purpose that included his marriage to Aubrey. The fact that we celebrated Jonathan’s wedding to this beautiful young lady is a testimony to the kindness of our great God who can take all things and work them together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes.

As for Aubrey, Cheryl and I started praying for her when Jonathan was born. So many times throughout the years we prayed for the girl that our son would marry. Although we did not know her name or anything about her or how God would lead her to our son, we nevertheless prayed for this young lady we would eventually meet many years later. We are grateful that God brought Jonathan and Aubrey together and gave them the assurance that they are meant for each other. God answered our prayers. We could not be happier. Cheryl and I love Aubrey and will always regard her as the answer to our prayers for Jonathan.

The Bible says that he who finds a wife finds a good thing — and Jonathan found a good thing in Aubrey. Our prayer for Jonathan and Aubrey is that God will make the road ahead smooth for them. However, we know that there will be times when the road ahead becomes broken, hard, and difficult. For those times we are assured that God will guard them and guide them to better days as they trust Him. For today, we are simply beyond grateful that God blessed the broken road that led Jonathan and Aubrey to find one another.