Weddings don’t happen every day in a mother’s life. And this wedding, only days away, is a first for Anne because her son is her only child. Her heart is filled with joy for this celebration of two lives beginning their life together.
Lots of preparation has been done to make this day special. First the big “to do” items of selecting the wedding date, location for wedding and reception, bridesmaids and groomsmen, selected color and theme for the event and a bridal gown. Anne learned that the mother of the groom has it pretty easy when it comes to wedding planning—the lion’s share was taken on by the bride and other competent shoulders.
Now with the big “to do’s” done there remained only the finer details. And one finer detail was the mother and son dance. That’s correct. A song was selected by her son and they were to get out on a dance floor and dance in front of an audience of wedding attendees. Her first response to this new circumstance was fear.
Anne’s wild imaginings, fueled by fear, kicked in the moment her son said he was stopping by to give her a dance lesson! Her thoughts began to spin faster than the vinyl records she danced to in her youth. She couldn’t recall the last time she danced but remembered she wasn’t good at it. Her mother had surrendered to the cultural pressure (like every other mother) to sign up sons and daughters for ballroom dancing lessons. Anne remembered her sweaty palms and fear when paired with a partner on the dance floor.
Her wild imaginings shifted to the future, “Can I do this? Will I be the dance partner to make our routine look like a demolition derby by stepping on my son’s toes? What if I slip and fall? Now wouldn’t that be a be a memory for all attending the wedding!”
The doorbell’s chime announced the arrival of her son for their dance lesson. He took charge with authority and a plan (he’d taken lessons with his future bride) to start off with easy-to-follow instructions.
He first demonstrated how their feet should move and in what pattern. After demonstrating that part of the dance routine he played the music. The room was flooded with the rhythm and vocals of his carefully selected song for this special occasion.
Once the movement and pattern for her feet was demonstrated and the music was playing to set the tone and pace, her son said, “Let me lead.” But to enable Anne to follow his lead he instructed her to rest her left arm on his arm; press her right hand against his hand and relax her right arm so it wouldn’t look like a chicken wing. “Oh, no, a chicken wing!” she thought, “Can I do this?”
To her amazement, when she let her son lead, her fear lifted. She was focused on following his lead and discovered she wasn’t stepping on his feet. She felt secure that should her new shoes initiate a slip on the dance floor he wouldn’t let her fall and there would be no hilarious memory added to that day.
Anne’s fear was replaced by joy as she happily announced, “I’ve got a great dance partner and all I need to do is let him lead. I’m ready to go!”
Let God Lead. Trust Him.
Anne faced a new circumstance and her first response was fear. Isn’t our first response the same when faced with a new circumstance?
That’s when we need to remember to trust God. God is the instructor; God gives us instructions and God leads us.
How does God lead us? We rest our left arm on God’s Word and His promises; we press our right hand on His in prayer; we relax our right arm because He doesn’t ask us to use it; and we trust His Hand on our back to keep us safe and catch us should we stumble.
Scripture and Trusting God
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” Psalm 20:7 (NIV)
“Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world’s light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light.” John 11:9 (NIV)
Trust God to Lead
What new circumstance are you trusting God to lead you?
1 thought on “Trust God to Lead”
This reminds me of a dance teacher back in my younger years who always said “Don’t look at your feet. Keep your eyes focused straight ahead and you won’t fall.” We need to keep our eyes focused on Jesus and trust Him to keep us from falling.