If you didn't know, Rachel was a flower girl in a friend's wedding today. That wasn't stressful - they took care of almost everything. They bought the dress, they did her hair, they took care of her so well that I really didn't have to do much.
What was stressful was 15 of the 17 minutes before the wedding started. Why was it stressful? Because I almost wasn't there. I had dropped Rachel off early to get ready with the bride & bridesmaids, and went back home with Zoe. Our plan was to start getting ready about 45 minutes before the wedding and be there at least 15 minutes before the start. That plan never happened.
I could make lots of excuses - good excuses. With my shoulder pain, I've not been sleeping well this week, and I fell asleep while waiting for my get-ready alarm to ring. I had also accidentally set the get-ready alarm for 2:15 AM, instead of PM, so it never rang.
Here's how my stress started - I woke up and checked my watch... 2:43 PM. Wedding starts in 17 minutes. I'm in jeans and a t-shirt, Zoe is equally casual. It takes 12-15 minutes to drive to the church, depending on traffic.
SET STRESS LEVEL TO MAXIMUM.
God helped me so many ways. Zoe got undressed and came down to the car half naked so that I could throw on her dress - I've never seen her get undressed faster. I threw on a dress shirt with my jeans - a great dress shirt was right in front in my closet. We got in the car and left. On the way, Zoe said "Daddy, I don't have on shoes," - God had caused us to leave some dress boots in the car earlier today, so she wore those. All the way there, I kept praying out loud, "God, please let us get there on time. Please make this car/van/truck in front of me go faster. Please let us get there on time. I don't want to miss Rachel." Over and over, out loud.
We got there and parked, I picked up Zoe and RAN through the rain. (If my doctor is reading this, I'm sorry for carrying her - I know I'm not supposed to pick her up right now because of my shoulder, but I had to do it). We got into the building, and the doors to the chapel were still open. The groom's mother was still standing in the foyer. We made it.
We were escorted in, and sat in the row behind my pastor's wife and all the teachers from Zoe's preschool. I felt embarrassed - I had to apologize for my attire and the fact that I was out of breath from running. Someone looked at me and said, "You're here. That's what matters."
SET STRESS LEVEL TO... ZERO.
There are some things in our lives that only happen once. This was Rachel's first, and possibly only time to be a flower girl. Yes, it was awful that I was almost late. Yes, my attire was way too casual for a wedding. But in the end, I was there. Being there is what matters - not all the stress and issues that arise along the way. I'm so glad that God helped me to get there in time. I am so glad that I was there.
Oh, and in case you couldn't guess... Zoe looked super cute in her heart dress, and Rachel was the best, most beautiful flower girl ever. I know... I was there.
