“Ezra!” Called out a woman excitedly from a busy kitchen. Pots filled with delicious smelling ingredients bubbled on the stove, the wonderful aroma wafting through the house all the way to the front door where a tall young gentleman had just entered.
Ezra greeted his mother with a loving smile, “Hello, Mom”.
“I’m so glad you were able to make it! We’ve missed you dearly!” She said as she hugged her son.
He had the good sense to look a little embarrassed. He gave her a sheepish grin. It had been a while that he had returned to his childhood home. He had been very busy with work, his bible studies, and events at church that he hardly had time for his weekly family dinners. He had missed the last two.
“I’m sorry Mom, works been hectic and I’ve been doing my best to get everything ready for Luke’s bachelor party, while keeping up with my reading, and meetings at the church.” He apologized.
Ezra’s mother patted his arm, “I know son, I just don’t want church being the only place we get to see one another.”
He nodded in agreement, “Well, I’m here now!”
“Yes, and good thing too! Hannah will be able to join us this time!”
Ezra’s sister, who still lived at home, was even more busy than he was so he rarely got to see her. She worked most evening besides church nights, and she was getting her basics done at the community college so between her social life and all her work they often only crossed at the Sunday service.
“Well alright, looking forward to getting to finally sit down with everybody!”
“Will your dad be home soon?” She asked him.
Ezra worked helping his father at their family owned furniture restoration shop, Mahogany Revival. Ezra’s great-great-grandfather had started the business out of his own home. Four generations later, it had become one of the number one places in the country to take antiques and revive them to their former glory. Ezra’s father now owned it and one day it would be passed down to Ezra.
“He’s just finishing up paper work and he said for you not worry, he’ll make it in time.” said Ezra with a twinkle in his eyes.
Ezra’s mother laughed, “He knows me all too well!“
“Well I would hope so! You have been married for over 25 years.”
She playfully swatted in arm, “Don’t you sass me boy!”
“When’s Hannah getting here?” He asked her.
“She’ll be here any minute.” She said as she turned back to the stove.
Right on cue the front door opened and shut. A young woman came bounding into the room. She lit up as she saw Ezra. “Ezra! So glad you’re here!” She reached out and hugged her brother tightly.
Their mother looked at them fondly, “Alright, both of you, take this reunion out of the kitchen! I’m working! You know what I say!”
Hannah and Ezra looked at each other and then in unity said, “If your not cookin’, washin’, or helpin’ then get out the kitchen!”
As they made their way out to the living room, Hannah said to Ezra with excitement, “I can’t wait till Luke and Rachel’s wedding! I’ve already got the perfect dress! Rachel is going to make a beautiful bride! More than anything, I’m so excited for the dancing!” She gushed happily, then she gave her brother a playful smile, “you wanna know what I’m even more excited about?”
Ezra looked at her with suspicion, “what would that be pib-squeak?”
Hannah winced and then swatted at her brother for the use of his annoying nickname for her.
“Well…” she started out slowly, “I can’t wait for your wedding! Wonder when that will be! You’re getting old big brother!” She teased him playfully.
Ezra put a hand to his heart and pretended to look offended, “I’m not much older than you! I’m only twenty-five!” Then he went on a more serious note, “Plus, I’m not worried, it’s all in the Lord’s timing. I trust he’ll show me the right woman.”
Hannah nodded, “I know big brother. Sometimes I wish I had your confidence. I can’t wait to wear that white dress and settle in my own home and raise my own little ones,” she said dreamily as she seemed to gaze far off in the distance.
Ezra gave her a meaningful look and replied, “My confidence comes from the Lord. I spent a long time wondering what kind of man I wanted to be and what kind of woman I wanted to share my life with. I prayed long and hard and you know what I realized? I want to be the Lord’s man. I want to be who He tells me to be. That goes along with who I’m going to marry. You see, we all have a purpose in His kingdom. There’s a woman somewhere out there that will help me fulfill that purpose and the Lord will tell me who.”
Hannah sighed, “There’s no one that’s caught your eye? Not out of all the lovely women at church?”
Ezra shook his head, “None that I’ve felt the Spirit move on me and say, that’s her. You know?”
Hannah looked at him quizzically and said, “I don’t think that’s how it works. I don’t believe in soul mates. I believe God gave us marriage as a reflection of His love for us, but more than anything, to fulfill one of his original commands, as help-mates to multiply and subdue the earth. He said it was not good for man to be alone. So it should be someone who has a similar purpose in life, someone you’re attracted to, but someone you can build a life with, a friendship with. How can you do that if you’re just waiting for the perfect girl?”
Ezra sighed, “I’m not waiting for a perfect girl. I’m just waiting for the Lord to tell me to move. Me and the Lord had a long talk about this. I know my calling in life is to be an encouragement to those walking through difficult things, to show people how to walk things joyfully, while being a pillar in our body. A pillars main job, it to walk faithfully the things the Lord has called me too and be an example of that people can follow. Knowing those things, the next step is a help-mate to fulfill my purpose. I prayed and asked the Lord. I felt like I received that He would tell me who when I meet her and so far, I haven’t met her.”
Hannah shook her head, but Ezra stopped her, “The Lord directs our steps. He created Eve for Adam. He pointed out Rebecca for Isaac. He told Hosea to marry Gomer. He knew Joseph would be willing to marry Mary anyway. It used to be that parents would pick out the acceptable spouse for their children. Arranged marriages. You don’t think the Lord has hand in these matters? He is a good Father, who wants good things for his children. The Lord has a hand in all things and that can include whom we marry.”
Hannah conceded, “Well when you put it like that!” She laughed, then shoved him in to the army chair.
They sat down on the couch and then Ezra threw a pillow in her face as she was getting ready for her revenge, the front door opened once again.
“Pops! Long time no see!” Ezra said to his father.
Ezra’s mother came into the living room, “James, Honey, dinners nearly ready.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek in greeting.
James looked down at his wife lovingly, “Well whatever its, it’ll be good if my beautiful wife made it!”
Hannah made a face at Ezra. Ezra rolled his eyes. He on the other hand thought it was great. His parents had a strong and affectionate marriage. Their foundation being rooted in Christ, and after years they were still deeply in love. They had been awesome role models, showing him all his life how to walk it out from how they lived, how they forgave, how they trusted, and how they loved, not only each other, but other people.
“Well, Sarah darling what can I do to help?” James asked his wife tenderly.
Sarah smiled at her husband, “Don’t you worry!” Turning to everyone, “y’all go on and sit at the table. Hannah want to set it for dinner?” Hannah dutifully followed her mother to the kitchen.
James and Ezra walked over to the dining room. Once the table was set and dinner served James prayed over their meal. After the amens, Sarah asked her son, “So, Ezra how’s the planning going for Luke’s party tomorrow?”
Ezra swallowed his food down and said, “First off, Mom this roast is delicious! You’ve outdone yourself!”
Sarah blushed at her son’s compliment.
“The planning is done. We are gonna first, meet at our place start the early evening with some scripture words for the Groom, then have a game of poker. Then once that’s finished go on down to Ace’s for a few drinks.”
Hannah snorted, “Seems like a whole lot of thought went into it.” Ezra laughed and then shrugged, “we are dudes, what can I say?”
“Sounds like a good night son,” said James and Sarah nodded.
“Now, Ace’s is that a bar?” Sarah asked
Ezra nodded, “Yeah, Jeremy recommended it. They have pretty good food for a bar and a few pool tables.”
The family finished eating their dinner. Ezra and Hannah helped clean up the table and wash the dishes for their mother. Afterwards they played their traditional trivia game in the living room.
“Alright, this is the tiebreaker, first one to raise their hand and get it right, wins!” James grinned at his family, “What is the world's most expensive spice by weight?”
Hannah smirked as she threw her hand up in the air and she threw Ezra a smug look, “Saffron!”
Ezra reached over and ruffled her hair, “kid, you’re a genius!”
Then Ezra noticed the time, “it’s getting pretty late. I should probably start heading out.”
Sarah smiled sadly, “are you gonna make it next week?” Ezra stood and gave his mom a hug. “I’m gonna try my hardest mom!” He then said his goodbyes to the rest of his family.
On the drive home he pondered the conversation he had had with his sister earlier. He was very excited for his friend, but he did hope the Lord would deliver him a wife soon. He had faith the Lord would provide for him a wife to share his life with, it was the the waiting that he struggled with. He prayed for patience and then put it out of his mind and then began praying for his friends upcoming wedding. He prayed for things to go smoothly, he prayed that nerves would be vanished. He prayed that the Lord would bless their marriage and their marriage bed. As he pulled into his apartment he prayed that his friends relationship with God would grow even deeper as he began the role of a husband. That he would lead his new wife well.
As he said amen his thoughts once again wandered to his own futures and he began praying for the woman that would one day be his wife. He prayed that she would have a strong faith, that she wherever she was that the Lord was beginning a deep work in her heart so that she would be ready for marriage one day. He prayed that wherever she was that she was happy and healthy and if she wasn’t that the Lord was making away for her to be.
Across town, the Lord had already began answering Ezra’s prayers before he had uttered them.