The Long Drive Home

This past Saturday, Dan, Jordan and I drove down to Los Angeles to send Jordan off for a semester in Israel. Dan had driven down in the wee hours of the morning so it was my turn to take the wheel so he could get some rest. As he slept, I had several hours to reflect on how far we've come since Jordan was born.

When we found out that we were expecting our first baby, I remember being ecstatic. We were so excited at the thought of actually starting our family. Will it be a boy or a girl? Will he look like Dan or like me? What color will his hair be? What will it be like to care of a baby that is my own? What kind of mother will I be? How am I going to do this? Oh, no....The excitement soon turned to the realization that I was going to be the number one person this baby would depend on for everything. I also realized that I had minimal experience as a parent ...ok no experience. A sense of panic set in. How could I possibly give him everything he needs? How will I even know what he needs?....

So I began to pray.

I prayed for the usual things a mother might pray: that he would be strong and healthy, that he would have all of his fingers and toes. I prayed that we would be diligent in teaching him the word of God and that he would come to know Christ at a young age. And just to cover all the bases, I prayed that God would give me wisdom in all the areas that I was lacking (which were many).

Jordan was born on March 24, 1990. We brought him home and began to care for and love him. During one of his feedings in the early morning before the sun was up, I remember sitting in the rocking chair in his room. I loved those quiet, peaceful moments. I spent a lot of that time just thanking God for the blessing that He had given us. As I held him in my arms I realized that at that moment, somewhere in the world, someone could be holding a little baby girl who may someday grow up to be his wife. I was overwhelmed with that thought and was compelled to begin to pray for her. I started praying the same prayers for her that I did for my own son; that she be healthy and strong, that she be well taken care of and safe, and that she be raised in a Christian home where she will be taught the word of God and come to know Him at an early age.

My prayers for her have changed as Jordan changed. As I saw his personality emerge, I prayed for his future wife. I knew she would need to be a good listener because Jordan liked to talk. I knew that she would need to be humble because Jordan had an unusual sense of humility. At age 12, when he decided to become a pastor, my prayers for her changed. I knew that it would take a very special woman to be the wife of a pastor. It would take someone independent and strong, yet endearing and friendly.

In the Spring of 2008, we noticed Jordan paying special attention to a certain young lady. Her parents noticed as well and her father called and asked Dan, Jordan and myself over for dinner. We spent the evening getting to know them and having a discussion about what it looks like to have a Christian dating relationship. At one point in the evening I excused myself to use the restroom. As I walked down the hallway, I noticed all of the pictures. As many families do, they had a beautiful collection of photos of all of their children. I admired their handsome family and moved on.

Jordan and Desiree spent that summer getting to know each other. Under the watchful eyes of both families, they developed a special friendship and then, sadly, said goodbye in the fall when Jordan went away to school. They continued to nurture their long-distance relationship throughout the year and continued to see each other throughout the next summer. By the time Jordan was ready to go back to school again, we knew what his intentions were. He expressed to us his desire to make Desiree his wife. We told him to pray and ask God for guidance and timing and all of the details that would be involved in such a proposal. By Thanksgiving, Jordan had a ring and during Christmas break, he proposed to Desiree and she accepted.

Shortly after that, Dan, Jordan and I were invited to her parents house. Once again we sat down over a meal just as we had done a year and a half earlier, except this time we were planning a wedding!! We reminisced about the first time we sat around that table and how much fun the last 18 months had been. We talked about their future together and how God is faithful and will provide for all things.

I excused myself from the table, except this time it was not to visit the restroom. I slowly walked down the hallway looking at each picture. I quickly found what I had been looking for. I found the sweet face of the baby girl I had been praying for 19 years ago. I found the pretty little girl who would be a good listener. I found the teenager who would be strong and independent and I found the beautiful, humble, young woman who will be my son's bride.

19 years ago I began to pray for this faceless person as an expectant mother prays for a baby she has yet to meet. God is faithful! I have met her and she is beautiful! Her name is Desiree and we are happy to add her to our family.

So why did I name this post "The Long Drive Home"? It might seem as though it was the drive home from LA that prompted the name. But as I thought through the last 19 years, it has been a long drive. We prayed so specifically and God answered so specifically. We pray consistently and God answer consistently. We prayed unswervingly and God answer unswervingly. I have seen the answers and have hope for answers with my other children. I am currently traveling down 9 other roads, each with their own set of prayers. I can't wait to see God's faithfulness in His choice of the other 9 spouses.

Blessings!

Trina