By Randy Stroman
This morning, as I sit and write on the day of my only daughter’s wedding, my mind is flooded with memories. Good memories. The kind that makes you smile before your feet even hit the floor. I can still see the little girl who filled our home with laughter, curiosity, and more energy than we sometimes knew what to do with. And now, that little girl has become a woman — a strong, confident, capable businesswoman who knows who she is and what she believes.
And yet, in so many ways, she is still that little girl who loves pretty things — a beautiful dress, a beautiful day, a beautiful wedding, and all that comes with it. Watching her step into this day has been like watching a lifetime unfold in fast forward. All the years, all the moments, all the conversations — the ups and only a few downs — have all led to this moment.
She was a great kid. She loved life, and she genuinely cared about people, especially those she felt needed someone in their corner. She has always had a heart of compassion and a love for helping others. Those qualities will serve her well in marriage, because the best marriages are not built on self-focus, but on serving one another in love. And those same qualities will serve her well very soon in motherhood. And then, the circle will feel complete — the little girl who looked to us for advice and support will soon do the same for her own children.
Today, when I see her walk down the aisle, I know all of these memories will flood my mind at once. But more than anything, I just want to enjoy the day. I want to be present. I want to capture everything I can — not with a camera, but in my heart — because these are the moments that become the memories we carry for the rest of our lives.
As a father, and as someone who has spent a lifetime teaching and coaching marriages, my prayer for her and her husband is simple. I pray that they follow the principles of marriage that she has seen modeled in real life. The principles she has heard us talk about more times than she probably wanted to hear. The principles found in God’s Word — the principles that never fail when they are applied.
Marriage works when we do it God’s way.
She has seen what it means to make God first and spouse second. She has seen that love is not just a feeling — it is a decision and a commitment. She has seen that unity is built intentionally, not accidentally. She has seen that conflict is not what destroys a marriage — the inability to resolve conflict peacefully is what destroys a marriage. She has seen that transparency is the currency of trust. She has seen that forgiveness is not optional if a marriage is going to thrive. She has seen that beliefs drive everything, and when your beliefs are aligned with God’s Word, your life and your marriage will move in the right direction.
She has also seen that marriage is not just a relationship — it is a covenant. And a covenant is worth fighting for.
In our home, she has seen that we do not fight each other — we fight for each other. She has seen that when the enemy attacks a marriage, you put on the armor of God. You stand in truth. You guard your heart with righteousness. You walk in peace. You live by faith, not fear. You protect your mind from condemnation. You pray about everything. And when necessary, you use the Word of God as your sword.
These are not just teachings she heard — these are principles she watched being lived out in real time. Imperfectly at times, but faithfully over time. And that is what builds a marriage. Not perfection, but commitment to doing it God’s way over and over again.
So today, my role begins to change. The teaching has been done. The example has been set. The foundation has been laid. Now my job is to cheer them on. To encourage them. To remind them of what they already know when life tries to make them forget. To be their biggest cheerleader as they build a life, a home, and a family together.
And as I watch my daughter walk down the aisle today, I will not just see the bride she is. I will see the little girl she was, the woman she has become, and the wife and mother she is about to be.
And I will smile, say a prayer, and thank God for the incredible privilege of being her dad.