When Sarah arrived home on Wednesday after school she was greeted by her mother on the front porch. “Afternoon, Sarah.”

She kissed her mother on the cheek and said, “Afternoon.”

“Sarah, about how long does it take you to do your chores when you get home?”

Sarah hesitated, “Well, let’s see.…” They walked into the house. Sarah placed her books on the kitchen table. “Maybe an hour and a half.”

“If I were to help you then you could do it in about an hour?”

Sarah nodded.

“How long would you need to fix yourself up in a pretty dress?”

Sarah was suspicious, “An hour, maybe; what are you scheming?”

“So, about two hours from now, you could be on your first date?”

“My first date? But, mother, you said yourself that I would not be allowed to court or have a man call on me until I was sixteen-years-old and I do not turn sixteen until Saturday.”

“I changed my mind. That is my prerogative. I found a nice young man and he must take you to dinner tonight.”

“Mother, you arranged it all without even letting me have any warning or option to escape?”

“Sarah, have faith in your mother. Come on, we’ll start on those chores.”

Sarah was leery yet trusting.

An hour later, Sarah was fidgeting in her room, practically ready to go. She was wondering why her mother would take such an unusual measure. She reviewed her math book to keep busy.

Knock, Knock.

“Sarah, your date is downstairs.”

Sarah replied, “Coming mother.” She straightened out her dress in the mirror. She whispered to herself, “Here goes nothing.”

As she made her way down the steps her mother spoke again, “He’s waiting for you in the kitchen.” Sarah walked into the kitchen. She was pleasantly surprised. Her date was handsome, neatly dressed; he wore shined shoes and a dash of cologne.

“Hello, Sarah,” he said.

Sarah had a coy smile when she replied, “Hello.”

“Are you hungry?”

“I am famished.”

“Your carriage awaits.” The young man stuck out his right arm, with the elbow crimped. Sarah locked her left arm in his.

Her mother wistfully waved, “Have fun you two.”

“We shall, mother.”

“Thank you for the lemonade ma’am.”

The young man opened the screen door. “Ladies first.”

“Thank you, sir.” He helped her into the buggy.

“Do you like the Casey’s Café downtown?”

“That sounds simply scrumptious.”

They arrived and parked the buggy on the side of the restaurant. He opened the door for her once more. Lillian, the waitress showed them to their table.

“Hello, Sarah. Hello sir. May I start you two out with some bread?”

The young man signaled to Sarah; she should order first. The waitress smiled and jotted down their orders on a small pad of paper. “I’ll be back in a few.”

“So, how long have you lived in Eagle Creek?”

Sarah was charmed. “I was born here.”

The young man said, “It seems like a quaint frontier community.”

“It can be boring at times, but I suppose every person my age feels that way about their hometown. I do enjoy living here, don’t get me wrong. It’s just that, well, in River City there is so much more to do. When my best-friend Emily and I went to stay with my Aunt Judy last summer, we did not experience one dull moment in two weeks. We went roller skating four times. Aunt Judy can skate well for an old person.”

The young man laughed.

Backpedaling, Sarah tried to correct herself. “No, I didn’t mean Aunt Judy was old, she gets along fine for someone in her forties.”

The young man was laughing even more.

Sarah knew she was digging herself in an almost inescapable pit of social missteps on her first date, “I mean, well, you know what I mean.”

“It’s ok. I had my first date too, once. I felt like I was trying to juggle cats.”

Sarah laughed.

For dinner they ate roast beef, sweet potatoes, black eyed peas, and steamed carrots. They had lemon pie for dessert. The young man made small talk, always allowing ample enough time for Sarah to reply. He did not wish to dominate the conversation and he kept the subjects light. He paid the bill and pulled out her chair.

“The night is still young and there is a park with a small pond nearby would you like to go for a walk?”

She beamed, “I would be honored, sir.” She placed her arm in his.

As they walked around the pond he told her more about his hometown. They sat on a bench near the band shell. “Sarah, tell me of your hopes and dreams. Where do you see yourself five years from now?”

She was quite fascinated and impressed that the young man would take such an interest in her. She delighted him with splendid stories of her plans. She wanted to attend college in Helena where she and Emily would be roommates. She wanted to be a writer, maybe even own a newspaper. He hung on her every word, nodding respectfully as she spoke.

Sarah stopped for a moment. She reflected and then continued speaking. “It’s strange how my mind, my dreams can change from one day to the next. I am practically an adult now or at least I’ll be on my own in a couple of years. Shouldn’t I have everything already planned out? I mean, if I want to own a newspaper someday maybe I should be an apprentice now.”

The young man rubbed his chin; he advised, “There’s no rush. Plans are important, goals are critical.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I believe it is more important to define who you are before you look for what you want. Eagle Creek is a small town in Montana, yet we are sitting on the stage of a band shell. Very few towns have such places; some small cities do not have them either. But Eagle Creek is special in that it was founded by men of extraordinary vision. On a side note, I have always liked that word, ‘extraordinary.’ There is a certain amount of grace and security in being ordinary, however, to receive recognition because of your accomplishments, to run the risk of repeated, painful rejection and continue to reach out for the sunrise is simply extraordinary.”

“Do go on, sir.”

“I can state unequivocally that this town believes that those who dream should be rewarded by always ensuring that the path to progress remains unimpeded. This band shell makes a statement: what you put into your mind is as important as what you put into your stomach. Music is to the brain what bathing is to the body. It washes away the dirt of every day life and allows you to stand clean before your own reflection.”

Sarah was a little embarrassed.

“I apologize. That may not be the best imagery for mixed company.”

Sarah giggled. “You are forgiven. Do continue.”

He smiled. “In my opinion, life is a symphony. God is the master conductor. Man is the privileged audience. As mortals, we echo this enchanting performance by the music of our actions. The sweet tones of an oboe are as the sunrise. The flower petals open to the sound of a cello. A guitar plucks joyfully as rabbits scurry about seeking nourishment. A man labors to the beat of a drum. A father returns home to his family with an opulent French horn. A tinkling xylophone echoes when he tells his children ‘good night.’ When we fall in love harps reverberate.”

He continued, “Every thing has a voice is part of a grand chorus, even if we can’t hear them. The tenor as blades of grass push through the ground; the thundering bass of an avalanche; the alto tune of a songbird as she tells the world about her babies, the high soprano of the stars themselves as they harmonize in the night sky. Every day is a new song and if we focus, if we learn to sit still, we may even hear the individual staccato notes of time itself.”

Sarah smiled. “You, sir, are a master poet.”

“Well, I don’t know about that, but I do appreciate the compliment.” He smiled back. “I am convinced that genial conversation is critical to a happy life.”

Sarah placed her head on one of his broad shoulders. They sat quietly for many more minutes, their feet dangling off the stage. They listened to the town winding down. Lights began to slip into darkness. Sarah’s wondering thoughts were interrupted when the young man sat up straight. “Good sleep is also important.”

Sarah yawned with her mouth covered. “Excuse me.”

“And, no doubt, you agree. Let me take you home.”

She nodded her head, a reluctant yes.

They walked arm and arm to the carriage. The ride home was mostly silent; she continued to rest her head on his shoulder. “Well, here we are.” He got out and helped her down out of the carriage. They slowly walked to the porch. They gazed in to each others eyes, attempting to capture one last picture of the evening.

Sarah tenderly said, “Well, goodnight.”

“And you, sweet drea…,” just then Sarah’s mother opened the door. He stopped. “Oops, my fault.”

“Mother, I just had my first date and I was about to get my first goodnight kiss! You ruined it!” Sarah said playfully.

“I do apologize. You do have a handsome date. I feel like kissing him myself.”

“Mother! Find your own boyfriend.”

“Boyfriend? It’s only been one date; but, with your permission this will not be our last. Now stick out your right cheek.”

Sarah gleefully complied. He kissed her. “Ok, now that you have gone out with the finest gentleman in Montana you know how I felt twenty-five years ago when I first went out with him.”

“Twenty-five years ago? That would make us ‘old people’ according to Sarah.”

“Father!”

“Well, remember the way your father spoke to you and behaved tonight. Never let any boy talk down to you or treat you as less than a princess. Ok?”

He turned to his wife.

“And you, you just can’t ask for a kiss before your daughter it’s not proper.” They were all laughing.

Paula replied, “Let’s go inside.”

Sarah said, “I’m going to go upstairs to bed.”

“I’ll be up there in a minute to tuck you in.”

“Ok. Good night, mother.”

She kissed her on the cheek. “Sweet dreams, Sarah.”

A few minutes later her father knocked at her bedroom door.

“Come in.” Sarah was curled up in the covers.

“Little one, you deserve the best.”

Sarah smiled. “Because, I am your daughter?”

He shook his head. “Because you are a child of God.”

Sarah was not expecting that answer.

Her father said, “I want you to know that I love you. You are precious to me as my daughter. I pray for you by name every day. I want you to trust that God will do spectacular things in your life. You deserve nothing but the best.

You deserve a Christian mate. You deserve that special moment when you see him on the other side of the room. Your eyes meet for just a split second. Your heart skips a beat and an unspoken voice says, ‘there he is.’ You deserve broad shoulders to lean upon. You deserve strong arms to carry you across the threshold.

You deserve to have him kneel before you and softly yet firmly grasp your left hand. You deserve that moment you dreamed about when you were a little girl. You deserve to be breathless. You deserve to sniff, choke back the tears, and whisper, ‘Yes!’

You deserve to be excited and count down the days until you put on that white vale. You deserve to go shopping for bridesmaid’s dresses. You deserve the opportunity to practice writing your new last name. You deserve in-laws who are proud to have you as a member of their family. You deserve his determination to always, always work hard so you will be comfortable, warm, and content.

You deserve a grand wedding in a church building. You deserve to look stunning and radiant! You deserve an incredible honeymoon. If you are worth the wait then you are worth the extra effort to make sure your honeymoon is memorable. You deserve a wedding night. You deserve to be his first. He deserves the gift of your chastity.

You deserve children. You deserve your own home. You deserve to grow old with someone who will be there for you when your face is wrinkled, when your body is sagging, and, when all the pain of life makes you cry, you deserve someone who will whisper, ‘Shhh, its ok.’

Out there, somewhere he is waiting for you. If you trust God, you will find him. If you don’t trust God you will settle for someone less than you deserve and live with regrets in the clutches of mediocrity.

Until you find him, don’t date anybody who will give you less than the best. Don’t spend time with any boy who will not treat you like a princess, a child of the King. Don’t try to change a frog into a prince. Just be patient and be willing to adjust your attitude; to be more loving, more graceful, and more open. Be willing to move out on your own. Be courageous.

Lastly, know in your heart that everything I have told you will come true. Give no room for doubt and make way for the great expectations that a Christian life brings.”

“I believe that father; I will do all of those things.”

"Then that is settled. Sweet dreams, Sarah.”

“Sweet dreams, father.”