My Fairy Tale

Every girl wants her fairy tale. Mine started when I was still in high school. Of course I had dated a few guys, but my fairy tale began when I was in 11^th grade. I had met this COLLEGE GUY. Yes, I got to tell all my friends I was dating a guy in college. And they were still dating immature high school guys. I got jokes like, “He’s a pastor? You’ll never have any fun!” Of course I think they were jealous, and I may have bragged a bit, but my reasons for dating were so different than theirs. They wanted a person to obsess over, hang all over, spend every second with, and then drop him as soon as the next “cutest” guy walked by. I was looking to marry.

I was so blessed with a Christian family where I had example of couples to follow. I was also blessed in my teenage years with a pastor’s wife with a passion for helping young ladies grow into the women God wanted them to be. When I was about 13, our group of churches in Florida started “Secret Keepers”, based on Dannah Gresh’s books Secret Keeper and The Bride Wore White. We had girls retreats that taught about what these books and the Bible said about dating, marriage, sex, and boys. These retreats led me into the path of looking for a husband, not just a boyfriend. We learned about saving ourselves physically, spiritually, and emotionally for our future husbands. According to the Bible, you only get one! So shouldn’t they get all of you? Not just the pieces left over after silly relationships?

So, little did I know that while God was speaking to me about all these issues at the retreat in March of 2005, that God was preparing me for something great. Just this past January (2012), while we were packing up our house for deputation, I found my notes from that retreat. In it, we were given the assignment to write a prayer to God, and ask him for all the things we wanted in a husband. I absolutely do not remember writing this prayer, so what a surprise to find a sentence that read, “Please send me a husband to do mission work with.” Here’s the incredible part- I met Jared just 2 months after that retreat. Isn’t it crazy that we can look back over our lives and see how God has been writing our stories? His ears were listening the day I said that prayer, and he sure did answer it!

I’m writing this to try to encourage those who think they will never find their spouse, or who are tired of chasing around silly relationships. PRAY for your future spouse! Remember, “Ask, and you shall receive.” Also, SAVE YOURSELF! Your spouse deserves all of you, and you deserve all of them! Physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Don’t load up your life with baggage and experiences you can’t take back. God meant you for one person. And believe me, it’s worth the wait!

So here we are, seven years after our fairy tale began, married, and about to start the mission work I prayed for. Our marriage is not always perfect, but God’s in charge and he’s still writing our story! I’m excited to see how it ends… but I’m sure it’ll be Happily Ever After!

 

 

Ladies: If you haven’t read Dannah Gresh’s book, I encourage you to do so! Even if you’re married, there is a lot of great info for your daughters and help for healing your past. Check them out! http://purefreedom.org/index.htm