Good morning…
With our son out of town at a work conference for the first time since becoming a daddy and our daughter-in-law doing the flowers for a large wedding in Athens, Georgia, I was needed as a grandmother to care for 11-week-old Charlie. Honestly, my first focus was our daughter-in-law Chandler. For her to feel my hands-on support was my primary goal for the week. If I could keep Charlie calm and content for five days, that would make Chandler’s creative work so much easier.
Chandler’s floral studio is attached to their home, so before I arrived on Tuesday, Chandler had prepared the space to welcome the mammoth flower delivery. She had hired the help of a freelance floral arranger for the five days before and during the weekend wedding. The stage was set for a life-giving experience.
That is when things started going awry. Charlie was unsettled with me for the first day, so Chandler and I needed to brainstorm together about what might help to comfort him. The flowers arrived later than expected, and the freelance florist canceled at the last minute; she totally backed out. Chandler would need to create the florals for four different venues all by herself. Gosh, all by herself.
She reached out to some friends to see if anyone could help. A few kind friends from church came on Wednesday and Thursday, one wearing her one year old. A few other friends came on Friday and Saturday, one with a four month old. Chandler showed them what she needed, and, though they were untrained, they did their best to prepare the flowers.
As she bathed Charlie on Thursday night, Chandler wondered out loud, “How am I ever going to pull off this big wedding weekend?”
On Friday morning, I woke to an anxious text from Chandler: “We had a really hard night unfortunately 🙁 he’s just waking up and I’m going to feed him and then I need to jump in the shower and get ready for the day because people are coming to help at 9. When I finish feeding him, can I give Charlie straight to you?”
Of course, I was delighted to care for Charlie. He and I shared a short play time together until he drifted back to sleep in my arms. I swaddled him and laid in his crib for his next nap. Living on the fumes of three hours of sleep and a quick shower, Chandler joined me in the kitchen.
“Well, now my friends are not coming until 10:00 am,” she said. That was the last unexpected straw, a straw that cracked open her tired heart. Tears began to flow. Self-doubt took over. Fear of failure overwhelmed.
“Sue, I just feel so weak,” she confided. In this deep valley moment, I wholeheartedly stepped into the gift of becoming Chandler’s mother-in-law.
I hugged her and gently said, “Well, we know what God does with our weakness. When we surrender in weakness, God’s strength takes over. You will not be doing the flowers for this wedding alone, Chandler. God’s power will somehow kick in to pull off what feels impossible. In the process, God will get all of the glory.”
Chandler took some deep breaths and calmed into the moment. “I am actually glad I have this extra hour to center my heart before my friends arrive.” As she went out into her studio to begin the long day, I got to work texting several of my most trustworthy prayer warriors, asking for prayers for Chandler and her friends, for me and for Charlie.
So many prayers were repeatedly lifted all weekend long. Friday afternoon, our son Kyler finished his conference and went straight to the rehearsal dinner venue to help Chandler set up. Then, arriving at the Athens Theatre, together they preparing the welcome party space. When their hard work was done, the two of them came home ecstatic.
“Sue, it was a miracle!” Chandler announced as they came in the door. “I have no idea how it all pulled together, but everything looked so good. I am totally relieved, but we’re just halfway done.”
With Chandler working her magic until Charlie’s 2:00 am feeding, God pulled off a similar miracle the next day and night. Chandler and her friends created a plethora of elaborate arrangements. Kyler and Chandler decorated the church with flowers, then they prayerfully prepared for the wedding reception at the Athens Country Club. Colorful beauty was popping out all over!
I will step aside now, and let the photos speak for God.
Miracles abound as God steps into our places of vulnerable weakness. Throughout the weekend, as fear, self-doubt, and overwhelm arose, Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9a, NLT).
The icing on my cake as a mother-in-law came for me when I received a text message from Israel, the holy land where Chandler’s parents live. “Sue, you’re amazing!” her mom wrote. “Chan could not have done her job this week without you. I’m so thankful that she has such a generous MIL who loves her with words and with actions, and that Charlie has such a wonderful grandmother who cares for him joyfully and sacrificially!”
As I drove on Saturday night, I snapped this photo and felt deep in my soul, “Thanks be to our all-powerful God!”
…Sue…
