The Mantle, the Fireworks, and the Bittersweet Tears of a Father
My phone rang yesterday, and the conversation on the other end was one of the most profoundly respectful calls a father can receive. My daughter's boyfriend was calling to tell me he was going to propose. I wasn't even sure young men still did that anymore, but I was so deeply grateful that he did. I was thankful he listened to the few pieces of advice I offered, the most important being this: Trust God first in everything, and you will have peace in your relationship.
When I hung up the phone, I immediately got down on my knees. I wept. I prayed and cried, releasing my daughter entirely into God's will. I prayed for her safety, her happiness, and her absolute peace. So many years ago, I dedicated both of my children to the Lord, praying they would do great things for Christ. Now, I add safety and peace to every single breath of that prayer.
It is incredibly human to try and predict how a relationship will turn out. I sat there thinking about my own family history—my uncles and cousins. There have been times when everyone blessed a relationship and thought the guy was amazing, only for it to fall apart. And then there was my uncle. I remember him being chastised by the family for asking my aunt to marry him. On paper, they were right to be concerned. He was a drunk, from the wrong side of town—you could say he was from the wrong side of the tracks. But that man loved me like a son. They recently visited me, and all these years later, they are still madly in love. He absolutely worships and adores her.
We simply cannot predict the future. Only God's grace writes the final story.
But as the tears fell on my floor, the joy of my daughter's future collided violently with the grief of my past. It is a profoundly bittersweet time. I sobbed because I realized I will never have the opportunity to talk to my son, Cash, about asking the love of his life to marry him.
I sat there remembering Cash's incredibly pure heart. When he was just in elementary school, he was catfished by a girl. When he finally found out the truth, his little heart was completely broken. But even in his hurt, his first instinct was grace—he refused to tell anyone because he didn't want to get her in trouble at school. That experience made him very selective about who he dated in high school. He possessed a protective, forgiving spirit that most grown men never achieve. I ache for the milestones I will never get to witness with him.
Later that evening, the FaceTime call came in. My daughter was beaming. She said yes. They were walking near a bridge they used to hang out at when they first started dating more than three years ago, and perfectly timed fireworks began going off in the background. What an absolute, beautiful nod from God.
God's timing in His Word is just as impeccable. I opened my Bible reading for today, completely unsure of how it would relate to the whirlwind of my evening, but it was exactly what I needed.
Today's SOAP
S - Scripture
2 Kings 2:9-10 (NIV): "When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, 'Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?' 'Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,' Elisha replied."
Matthew 6:33 (NIV): "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
O - Observation
In 2 Kings 2, we witness a profound, bittersweet parting. Elijah is preparing to be taken up, transitioning out of his role as the primary covering for his spiritual son, Elisha. It is a moment of deep release. In Matthew 6, Jesus addresses our deep human need to predict and control the future. He acknowledges our worries about safety, provision, and happiness, giving a singular directive: put God first, and the rest falls into its proper place.
A - Application
Releasing my daughter to God's will is my "2 Kings 2" moment. I am passing the mantle of her daily protection and leadership over to this young man. The fact that he called out of respect shows he values the spiritual covering I have tried to provide. Like Elijah, I am transitioning into a new role in her life, praying a double portion of God's spirit over their union.
The advice I gave him—to trust God first—is a direct echo of Matthew 6. As I noted with my uncle, humans are unpredictable. We try to predict who will be a good spouse, but God's grace rewrites human trajectories. I cannot control their marriage, but if they seek God's kingdom first, He promises to cover the rest. I must also apply this to my grief. God holds the fireworks of the engagement and the heavy tears for Cash in the exact same hands.
P - Prayer
Heavenly Father, my heart is overflowing with profound gratitude and heavy tears. Thank You for the young man who honored me by asking for my blessing. I release my daughter entirely into Your perfect will. Surround their new engagement with unshakeable safety, deep peace, and pure happiness. Lord, I also bring my grief to You. I ache for the milestones I will never see with Cash. Thank You for the reminder of his beautiful, forgiving heart. Comfort me in this bittersweet season, and let me trust completely that You are sovereign over all of our transitions. In Jesus' name, Amen.
