It rained on my wedding day. I’m not talking about a nice little shower to christen the day. I’m talking Oklahoma downpour with flash flood warnings and power outages.
When the lights flickered as I was getting ready at the church, I wasn’t concerned. When the lights went out for a few minutes before the ceremony, I wasn’t too worried. When the power cut out in the middle of my bridesmaid’s song, and then came back on and the processional music began loudly, I laughed. We all laughed. It really was a day to remember. A hot, sticky, air conditioner-less, power-less day to remember.
Truthfully, I didn’t think much about the weather or the power outages until we arrived at the reception site 5 miles away.
It was black. Every light surrounding the community building was out. My brother-in-law met us at the door, and using the light from his cell phone, walked us into the reception hall.
Looking back, I probably should have been upset, but I wasn’t. I was a happy little bride. I didn’t need power to make the day any better.
It wasn’t until it was time for dancing that I realized the lack of power might actually stop one of the things that I had been looking forward to the most – the first dances.
Since I was little, I imagined the first dance with my husband, and then, getting to dance with my dad. I had not, however, imagined the quarter-inch of water that had flooded through the glass doors onto the so-called dance floor. Talk about slippery.
But you know, we played music from laptop speakers, and in that moment, it really didn’t matter that it was hot, dark and I was dancing in water. We were in love.
As the music ended, I looked over and saw my dad on the edge of the dance floor. His hands were in his suit pockets and he stood there grinning and patiently waiting his turn. I think this was a moment he must have imagined from the time that he found out he was going to be the daddy of a little girl.
I carefully left the arms of my husband and tip-toed over to my dad. And as I reached for him, we were back in the kitchen of our old house – my feet perched on top of his own as he held me up and danced to a quiet hum. I loved dancing with my daddy growing up.
This night wasn’t much different. There was only quiet music playing softly, and it was just me and my dad.
The music began, and as we began to move across the slippery ground I whispered, “Just don’t let me fall, Daddy.”
That sweet man held me tightly and whispered right back, “Sweetheart, I won’t ever let you fall.”
And I knew that he wouldn’t. I leaned my head on the damp wool of his suit coat and let those words soak into my heart.
“I won’t ever let you fall.”
There are days that I have needed those words again. There are days when the cares of the world feel heavy, and I worry that I might not be able to shoulder them… and I pray, “Just don’t let me fall, Lord.”
It’s then that I hear the soft words of my dad echo in the voice of my Heavenly Father…
“Sweetheart, I won’t ever let you fall.”
When life is uncertain, when I am afraid, when it feels like the world is watching and waiting for me to trip… I hear His words.
They sound just like my daddy’s.
So today, I offer them to you. They’re yours. Borrow them. Hear them spoken over your own heart. Listen for the precious voice of your Heavenly Father as He gently reminds you…
His words are always sweet. His thoughts are always good. His hand is always present. And His Love forever keeps us from falling.
