A little over a year ago, I hired a young woman to join our church family and help lead our kids and students in the way of Jesus. At the time, it was about calling, gifts, and mission. We were excited about what God might do through her leadership with our families.
What I didn’t know was that God was quietly writing another story at the same time.
Over the months, she and my son started spending time around the same ministry spaces. Financial Peace University. Spiritual First Aid. Church events. Conversations after things wrapped up. The kind of ordinary moments where you slowly start to realize someone matters to you more than you expected.
They encouraged each other. They laughed together. They shared life in the natural rhythm of church and ministry.
And eventually… they started to like each other.
In fact, there was a moment when they sat down with me and said something along the lines of, “We don’t think we should like each other… but we can’t seem to help it.”
As a pastor and a dad, that’s a unique conversation. It’s one that seminary can never prepare you to have!
But sometimes the best things in life are the ones God gently grows when nobody is trying to force anything.
What started as friendship slowly turned into something deeper. And last night, it became something official.
My son asked her to marry him.
He took her back to the place where they had their first date. The whole evening involved a bit of strategy on his part. The rest of us were part of the distraction so she wouldn’t suspect what was coming. Watching it all unfold was one of those moments you wish you could slow down and hold onto for a while.
And when the moment finally came… she said yes.
As a dad, there are moments that fill you with a quiet kind of pride. Not pride in accomplishments or achievements, but pride in the kind of people your kids are becoming.
Watching my son step forward with courage and commitment meant a lot to me.
And watching the woman he chose, the same woman who has been faithfully investing in our church’s kids and families, made it even more meaningful.
Sometimes God writes stories that none of us could have planned.
A year ago, I was welcoming a staff member into our church family.
Last night, we celebrated welcoming her into our actual family.
Life has a funny way of doing that.
To both of you: we are proud of you, we love you, and we can’t wait to see the life God builds through your marriage.
Congratulations Matthew and Molly! The best chapters are still ahead.
Congratulations! We are so happy for them, and your family!