First Trust

Even though it’s been almost twenty five years, I remember the day very well

The day I asked my girlfriends father for his blessing to marry her

I had sat through most of the lunch at Shakey’s pizza parlor sweating hard

I knew once my question was “out there” the return fire would begin

“How will you support her?”
“Where will you live?”
“What is your job?”
“What are….

Questions I knew I could never really fully answer in one setting

Questions that I did not have the (adequate) answers for anyway

Questions that I would not anticipate

There was a deeper question anyway

One that a close friend had shared would need to be dealt with first

So, when the return questions began, I asked my future father in law, “do you trust me with your daughter?”

There was a short moment of silence

There was a smile that said “welcome to the family”

Yes, we trust you with our daughter

I was in the circle of trust

I had been found trustworthy

I had earned their trust and I celebrated-inside especially

The other questions found their appropriate place and time

Trust takes time

But it sure is worth it

Twenty five years now, and he still trusts me with her