Today I had the awesome privilege of participating in the wedding of two dear members of our church. Avery and Shanika publicly proclaimed their life, love, and worship together as they entered into the covenant of marriage on this day. It was a wonderfully encouraging and challenging time. I was reminded of the beautiful way in which God has ordained for man not to be alone but that he is to have a woman at his side to live and love with for all time. Yet, I was also reminded that the long hours of counseling and preparation, though at times seem to be a grind, when the wedding day comes you see that it was more than worth it.

So to Avery and Shanika I say congratulations! And to Avery in particular, I know you are realizing that the wait was worth it, but keep that in mind as you continue to serve your wife in years to come. Things will not always be according to your plans or design. She will take her time, but I hope you learn not to mind (too much), because you see that in the end she’s worth it.

I like the way Brad Paisley sings about it in this video, Waitin on a Woman. One of my favorite songs and videos in recent years. Again, congratulations.  We love you.  Enjoy!

Sittin’ on a bench at West Town Mall
He sat down in his overalls and asked me
You waitin’ on a woman
I nodded yeah and said how ’bout you
He said son since nineteen fifty-two I’ve been
Waitin’ on a woman

When I picked her up for our first date
I told her I’d be there at eight
And she came down the stairs at eight-thirty
She said I’m sorry that I took so long
Didn’t like a thing that I tried on
But let me tell you son she sure looked pretty
Yeah she’ll take her time but I don’t mind
Waitin’ on a woman

He said the wedding took a year to plan
You talk about an anxious man, I was nervous
Waitin’ on a woman
And then he nudged my arm like old men do
And said, I’ll say this about the honeymoon, it was worth it
Waitin’ on a woman

And I don’t guess we’ve been anywhere
She hasn’t made us late I swear
Sometimes she does it just ’cause she can do it
Boy it’s just a fact of life
It’ll be the same with your young wife
Might as well go on and get used to it
She’ll take her time ’cause you don’t mind
Waitin’ on a woman

I’ve read somewhere statistics show
The man’s always the first to go
And that makes sense ’cause I know she won’t be ready
So when it finally comes my time
And I get to the other side
I’ll find myself a bench, if they’ve got any
I hope she takes her time, ’cause I don’t mind
Waitin’ on a woman

Honey, take your time, cause I don’t mind
Waitin’ on a woman