I like to cover all my bases. My family would probably say that is an grave understatement, as not only do I like to cover all my bases, but like to cover all the bases of almost anyone else that I feel the slightest responsibility to or for in my life. Some may think I go overboard, but I don’t see it. Take for example this weekend….

We were invited to a wedding. This was no ordinary wedding – not that any wedding is ordinary – but between family, friends, and congregational members, we go to our fair share of nuptials. But this was different, I was involved like I had never been before. I was the mother-of-the-best-man. This had almost excruciating responsibilities. My very unattached son (this is important as I couldn’t shrug the duties off to a girlfriend or wife) was going to be the nerve-settling, check-the-tie-and-boutonniere, get-me-to-the-church-on-time, keeper-of-the-rings, and slip-me-a-mint attendant for his friend. I was the pianist at the ceremony, so I perched myself at the instrument well before the wedding party arrived. I breathed a sigh when I noticed the fellows had arrived and I must attest, they looked pretty well put together. Then it happened! I panicked and I found myself sending a text message to my husband’s cell just before the groomsmen entered the sanctuary with the presiding pastor. Type, type, type, send. I looked up and it was too late, they were coming up the aisle. I moved on to plan “B.” I pulled candies out of my purse which earlier in the week I had unwrapped and placed in a tiny plastic bag. I placed them on the piano bench prepared if any wedding party dry-cough spasms occurred (actually I had prepared a duplicate for my best-man-son’s suit pocket but had he remembered to take them?). Next, I removed my wedding ring from my finger, and placed it strategically on the piano so it could be tactfully retrieved if necessary. Despite all my concerns of doom the ceremony went without a hitch. We still weren’t out of the water after the exchanging of the rings, though. There was still the signing of the documents and I was left myself helpless in this matter. At the rehearsal I should have suggested the pastor hover to confirm that the signatures were going in the correct places. What was he thinking when he moved back to give them room? This was serious and legal. But, again, all went well.

As my best-man-son took the arm of the beautiful maid-of-honour to escort her out of the sanctuary I started to cry (not unnatural for me so no one even mentioned it if they were witness to it). As a mother I have seen glimpses of the man I call my son, but that day as he stood and witnessed his friend’s wedding before God and man, I realized that God has moulded him into a responsible and honourable man. There are times when I am sure that I will want to cover the bases for him, but I pray that God will give me the wisdom to recognize when he has to be responsible for himself and with God’s guidance, my son will cover all the bases as He sees fit.

~P.K.