Would life ever be the same?
Her 15 year old heart shattered. How could the one her heart loved sit one row in front of her with his arm around another girl?
Little did she know that God’s greatest gift was standing on the platform, less than 100 feet away. She had no idea that the man who would love her thoroughly and intimately; the one who would share his deepest dreams and greatest sorrows, was at that moment filling the auditorium with song.
The two were kept from noticing one another. It was just as well; for these two strangers would not have been able to process the imagination that they would bring five children into the world together. They would have been dumb-founded if told that, through their union, they would share more joy than any two individuals ever deserved.
This boy…didn’t see her tears that day,
but one day…
His arms would comfort her pain
His hands would wipe her tears
He, too, would be held in her arms
She couldn’t see the one who would one day lead her, share God-sized adventures with her, expose his darkest shame with her. She would wrestle with him, fight for him, and believe God with him…for healing in the most fractured places of their hearts.
The music ended. She ran out the back door, grabbing her running shoes from her dad’s pickup. Tears streamed down her face as she ran all the way home…
but this boy…
He ate watermelon cut and served by the woman who would one day love him as her own son…
Did she have any idea that night how special this young man was?
Looking back, I’m sure he would have forfeited the watermelon to run after this girl had he known that within 3 short years his imaginations would be consumed with ways of lightening her load, protecting her from harm, creating ways to spend even a few minutes with her.
In less than 900 days he would be the one offering to haul her luggage through the lobby where their love would bud and blossom.
He would be the one to wait outside her place of employment late at night to secure her safe passage back onto campus.
The girl that ran away that night would be the one he would invite on long walks. Together they would laugh and pretend about life together, imagining backyard BBQs, dinner with friends
…A friendship so dear was opening their hearts to something much deeper than either one had ever felt before.
This boy…had he seen her pain-filled eyes that first night, would he have imagined that one day their pain filled eyes would share a common grief as they knelt over the graveside of their only child? She would have prayed for him that night…and every night…had she known, praying that their strength would abound through God’s grace.
How did God keep such a wild surprise from them? They had no idea that they would kneel together throughout the years of their lives, share morning coffee, and child-rearing joys. They didn’t know that the one who would share bike rides and vacations, dirty diapers and sleepless nights, campouts and school assemblies, delivery rooms and graduations, was sharing the same oxygen in her small church that evening!
Even in their older years they would continue to dream larger dreams together.
God stamped their faint footprints on each other’s path that night…they would leave footprints across one another’s hearts til their final breath!
How could one so critical to her life be invisible that first night?
He was right there in front of her!
He was the one who would stoop low to plant spring surprises in her garden.
He was the one who would craft for her a precious mailbox and mantle…
He would design stone around a fireplace and on a patio.
He would construct garden boxes and step stools.
He would love her imperfections, believe in her dreams, and look for countless ways to make those dreams come to life…roll top desks, open holed flutes, vision-casting trips to DC…nothing was too costly for this one he would love so thoroughly.
He walked across her path the first time and God winked.
He would bring them together again and…
she would never be the same!
———
Gary Paul, you continue to change my life for the better!
I LOVE this life …because YOU are in it!
My Surprise… I love you!
Happy 54th Birthday!
Patty, You shared with me a few days ago that you were trying to think of something REALLY special to give your Gary on his birthday. I can’t imagine you could have given him anything more special than these precious words. I like to say, “A good man is a good gift.” God gave you a REALLY good gift when He gave you Gary and Gary a REALLY good gift when he gave Gary you.. I’m excited to see how you each individually and as a couple will be used by the God you both love so! Blessings on your journeys….Sue
This is the sweetest ❤️
This is so heart warming! I love how the Lord has every detail of the tapestry of our lives under His control. What an amazing God we serve!
So beautiful. What a special gift for your beloved on his birthday! Thank you for sharing this with us.
What a wonderful gift! Beautiful words, Patty! You are very blessed, Gary!! Happy Birthday!
Very beautifully written, it goes to show that nothing is insurmountable in the conveyance of God’s love and what he can do.
A wonderful tribute!
Patty, you are such a beautiful writer. Your story fills my heart sorrow and joy. Mostly joy for the beautiful relationship you and Gary have and your love of God. I feel so blessed to have got to know you two and some of your beautiful family. As I am in the Portland area at this time, I will think of you always and hope to see you soon…Debbie