Thursday, April 14, 2011

In my mind's eye

I am the mother of two amazing and beautiful young women. Before they were born, I started praying that they would have good husbands.  I have prayed that prayer as regularly as I've prayed any prayer over my girls. 

We are very blessed that the Lord brought the perfect man for Leigh Anne and can't wait to meet Lara's husband to be someday.  While I've prayed for the "one" that the Lord has for the girls, I will admit that I've "shopped around" for son-in-laws!  I have found a few that I would love to have marry my girls.  More often, I see young men and admire specific traits and add them to a "wish list" for my son-in-laws.

I am continually amazed at how many great young men we know!  There are SOOOO many, that I could never write about all of them, but a few really stand out in mind tonight.

Spencer loves Mallory so much.  I love to watch him look at her. It's all over his face!  Bradley's a great husband and dad.  I love how he continually talks about how great a mom/wife that Shawn is.  He really loves her and it is so obvious.  I want those traits in my son-in-law! I want him to love my daughter like Spencer and Bradley love their wives.

Michael is so smart. He lives his life to honor and glorify the Lord and it is so evident that he is focused and hard working and is planning for a future for Hannah and their future family.  Kyle is so faithful and loyal and a man that walks in the peace of the Lord. He is a stable foundation for the life he and Cayla live. Steven loves being a husband and father. He loves that he is a family man. He loves Danielle and their precious baby.  He has made major life changes to assure that he can be all he can be for them. He changed his career so that he could be happier and be with his family as much as possible.  Those young men are awesome, Godly men that are stepping into the role God has for them as heads of their homes.  I want my son-in-laws to take that calling seriously and be as good at it as these guys are!

There are so many other traits I want for my girls in their husbands.  I could go on and on.  But honestly that isn't the real reason for this post.  This is another post about Will...  I hope you don't find it depressing.  That is absolutely not my intent.  It's just that Will's birthday is coming up and I was with some people last night and today that made me think...

There are two young men in my life that when I look at them, instead of looking for traits I want in a potential son-in-law, I see the young men I wish my son had the opportunity to grow up to be.  I am positive that poor Jody and Jason have noticed me looking at them strangely. They probably think I'm either a crazy, old lady (ok, that one is true) or a creeper (that, I am not!).  I can't help it. I look at them and my momma's heart just wants to burst wide open.

I see a quirky face that Jody makes or hear Jason make a comment to me about the Lord or listen to either of them talk about their ministries and my first thought is, " I bet that Will would have done that." or said that. or thought that.  I hope that Will would have had a heart for the Lord like either of these young men. I would have loved if he would have been the husband that Jody is to Sarah or Jason is to Amy. I would have loved being the grandmother getting to watch Will be a daddy like either of these guys.

I am positive that Will would have been crazy funny like his daddy - Jody makes "Steve-like" comments and I can't contain my laughter.  I am positive that Will would have been compassionate and sweet to me like Jason is.  I love to sit and talk to Jason - I am so thankful for the times when Jason came to my office to take care of insurance business and spent the next hour just talking with me and being kind.

So.... Jason and Jody (or Sarah and Amy - who are much more likely to see this!) - listen up.
I am not creeping on you. I am not crazy. I am not trying to make you uncomfortable or make our time together awkward. But if you see a far-away look in my eye, or if you think I'm staring at you a certain way - I probably am. It's not you, it's me. I just may be trying to see Will in you, a little.  I hope that's not too weird.  If it is, I apologize, not sure I can change it, but I apologize.

Anyhow, I just think you are great.  I am certain the Lord looks at you and is pleased. Your wives and children have the best husbands and dads. Your employers are lucky to have you. Your friends have a tremendous gift in you. 

And trust me, your moms are blessed. Yes, they are.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Nancy, I just had a chance to read this! What a sweet tribute to so many great people. I'm honored to be included in such a wonderful list of people, and I'm honored that God gave me such a great man!!