Thirty months ago today, I heard a friendly voice on my phone asking me for a coffee date. I had my fingers crossed and high hopes that our first face-to-face meeting might produce a relationship that would lead to marriage. That's why I was on this matching service. I'd had more dates in my sixties than I'd ever had in my teens. Many of the dates were duds, but I was always optimistic that someday I'd meet a perfect match. The good thing about an online matching service is if the person doesn't work out, you can just tell them you don't think you're a match--via email, usually--and that's that. This guy, Jim, was different. We clicked immediately and as I've told you before, we knew we were a match almost immediately. Three months later, we were married.
I could tell you more of the back story--but just go here: http://www.shirleymozena.com/other/bsc_excerpt.pdf. I will tell you that after several disappointing encounters with the opposite sex, I was ready to give up. I even told God that He'd have to bring a man into my life. I asked Him--God--if He would bring a guy who loved Him as much--or even more--than I did. And of course, that this guy would be crazy-in-love with me.
That brings us to today. How's it going after thirty months? Jim was worth the wait. He was worth the wait after a heartbreaking engagement--and two previous profound losses. Our marriage is nearly perfect. We are compatible. We enjoy our daily routines with each other. First, we must have coffee. Then we read our Bibles together and pray. We do this every morning. One of my favorite mugs is one that was a gift at Christmas. There are two mugs, actually. A "Mr." and "Mrs."
On the back of each mug is a reminder:
A marriage that follows God's plan
takes more than a woman and a man.
It needs a oneness that can be Only from Christ
marriage takes three.
Our marriage is sweeter because we each know what it's like to be with a marriage partner. And without. We both know we've been gifted to each other for this time. Of course our imaginations go to fearful thoughts like, what we would do without the other? Yet, we go back to the trust factor. I know--and Jim knows, too--where our every breath comes from: the Giver of Life. In the meantime, though, I will be grateful for the special gift God brought into my life thirty months ago. I will not fret or worry, for it doesn't help one whit. I love what Paul the apostle says in his letter to the Philippians:
Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
The Message, Philippians 4: 6-7
So my friend, you might ask, why doesn’t God bring a man into my life? A man of my dreams? I don’t have an answer for you. I can’t promise God will answer your prayer as He did mine, but I can tell you He is there. He cares and He knows where you are and what your deepest desires are, too. But do take your worries into prayers—and God promises that you will have a “sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good and settle you down.” It’s right there. Trust in those words. It's worth it.
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