God Gave Us YOU, Larry Wallace!
Friday morning, I took Larry his requested “Granny’s Chocolate Cake” for his birthday — well, it’s her recipe, but now I get to take the glory for having perfected it! LOL!
Since I’m going to be out of the country on his birthday, June 9th, and since we’re a family that one day of celebration for the birthday guy or girl just isn’t enough, I’m starting out this birthday week with telling you about this man who not only changed my mind about “jocks”, but changed my mind about the perfect man for my daughter, so much so that I wanted to share with those of you who are praying for THE PERFECT ONE for your sons and daughters. It starts with praying, trusting God and then giving Him full reins to be the Master Designer and Orchestrator of what He knows already to be the “perfect match made in heaven”.
Twenty-one years ago, the perfect man for our daughter, in my mind, was a man devoted to full time ministry, because, after all, she had vowed to be the next “Mother Teresa” who was all about making a difference in this world and going to the world to share God’s good news. At that time, Larry was a true jock. He had been recruited and played for 4 years for Texas A&M’s championship football team. Then he became a body builder and was working towards becoming Mr. Oklahoma. He was, no doubt, a beautiful speciman of a man. What I saw on the outside was FINE, but this guy, in my books, was all brawn and not what I had envisioned for my girl. I had about four guys who I had deemed to be in the running for Mr. Staci! LOL! Thank you, God, for saying “NO” to those prayers.
Right here is where the story in 1 Samuel 16 is a great parallel. God had told Samuel to anoint one of Jesse’s sons to be the king that would succeed Saul. All of his sons were paraded before Samuel, and Samuel thought that surely Eliab was the chosen one because he saw something in the tall and stately presence of the eldest born of Jesse which reminded the old man of the splendid attributes of Saul. Eliab seemed to Samuel, in all respects, a fit successor to the great warrior whom the Lord rejected. But the Lord said to Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7 “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” That’s when Samuel asked Jesse “Are these all of your sons?” And we all remember that there was one more — an athletic, strong, kind, tenderhearted and “heart after God’s own heart”, ruddy warrior, and beautiful son who was a shepherd, David.
And, here is my departure from that story to this man, Larry Wallace, who, indeed was God’s chosen one for my Staci, the exact opposite in nature to hers, but the perfect match for her strong will, drive and determination. Now this “perfect match couple” both desire, more than anything, to make a difference in this world….and they both are driven to do so everyday. When we were going around the dinner table and telling him what he meant to us on Friday night at his first birthday celebration so far, Staci said, “You complete me!” And that is so true. That is why I gave him these words in his birthday card:
“These pictures show the fun-loving, enthusiastic, competitive, yet peaceful, calm, strong, and PATIENT qualities that makes you — YOU! Really, really, really — you are one in a million, which shows God must love this family ginormously to single you out for US!! Those are just a few of the many reasons to thank God for the gift of you to this world, but, even greater reasons for thanksgiving — for me, that God blessed me with having you as my son. What an indescribable love God had for me, Staci, Payton, Alexia and all who know you — to bless us with YOU! I’m so glad it’s your birthday, because we get to honor and celebrate the mainstay, the pillar of strength, the man of God, the incredible leader, role model, father, husband, son and friend that you are to so many! Happy Birthday, my wonderful son, Larry. I love you so much and thank God for giving us — YOU!
Mom XOXOXO