2018, The Year of the Ring
Are you on the edge of your seat ready to know what happens next? If not, that's okay too!
March 18, 2018. It happened! He got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. But lets back up just a little bit. Actually about 110 years to March 18, 1914. The day my great grandfather was born, Henry Johnson. He and I were very close and I am so grateful for the time we had together. After school was over I would drive to the nursing home and visit him and my great grandmother. I would sing to them, listen to his stories, and just enjoy being around them. Now fast forward 81 years. My mom was pregnant with me, and guess when I was supposed to be born? March 18,1995. However, I was not born until March 26. Why is this number 18 so special? Just keep reading!
Now, lets fast forward one more time to March 18, 2018. It was a Sunday. We were at church, life is good, I had no clue what was about to transpire. Our pastor gave a wonderful sermon (I am sure of it even though I don’t remember if I am being fully honest, however, he ALWAYS gives a wonderful message). Its around 12 o’ clock in the afternoon and the sermon is about to end. Still completely clueless. As the sermon comes to a close and everyone begins leaving the sanctuary, the pastors wife, remember her? The one who introduced us! YES! She comes around holding a phone and it looks like she is video taping. Okay, but why? WELL! He begins to reach into his pocket and pulls out a box. THE BOX! The box all of us dream of getting one day. He kneels down and asks me the BIG question. WILL YOU MARRY ME? Do you want to know what I said? “That’s a stupid question”. Who says that? Of course after I said that, I said yes! DUH! But let me justify and explain where the “that’s a stupid question” came from.
For some time after my ex-fiance ended our long term relationship, I felt like I was lost. He was my first love. Well, I thought he was my first love. In reality, I was just in love with the idea of being in love. I wanted the classic fairy tale. The big life. The big house. The big “gotta have it all”. I thought I could have that. Turns out that was not what God had planned for me and I am very thankful for the path He would lead me down. I learned that yes, I did love this person, but he was not my person. We had different interests, and if I am being vulnerable and transparent….a lot of times I would want him to be someone that he was not. I didn’t like the way he dressed, the way he acted in front of others, the way he showed his love for me, the way he cleaned, the way he did everything. I wanted to just fix him all the time and it was exhausting. Is this really what love is like? The answer to that is no! That is not love. I feel like alot of you can relate to this feeling of wanting to “fix” someone to fit this perfect image of what you want in a partner. The truth is you are never going to find someone who checks every box and fits into this perfect image you want. In fact, God will send you someone who may be the complete opposite of what you are looking for and it may be exactly the balance you need.
According to the Bible, specifically 1 Corinthians 13:4 states that love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves.
When I met Hunter, I felt love. Truly the meaning of what love is supposed to be as stated in the Bible. I found a love from a person who loves me for me. My successes, my failures, my shortcomings, my character, my religion, my appearance. However, not only did I find someone who loves me for me, but I found someone who I love for who they are. I do not know if you have ever felt true love, but if you have not…I cannot wait for you to experience it. It is such a magical feeling. The same goes for the way God loves you. Do you know that God loves you so much, that He sacrificed his ONLY son to save you from your sins? That’s unconditional love if you ask me.