A few weeks ago during small group at church we started a marriage series. The opening question was why did you get married? I giggled…….and I giggled because I didn’t have an answer. That was nearly 30 years ago. The 20 year old me would have said because I love him and we have fun together and that was true. But it’s not enough. He was confident, smart, ambitious, and he did make me laugh every day. In reality we had nothing in common, I was Baptist he was catholic (this bothered a lot of people) he was republican and I was indifferent, I was against the death penalty and he was for it, I was heavy metal and he liked Genesis…….but something just clicked…..not sure exactly what. I remember asking my mom how you know when it’s the one? Her answer did not help-she said she married daddy because he opened the door for her, was kind to animals and liked kids. Well Paul did all that, still does but really do you build a life on opening doors and liking dogs?
I ended up breaking up with Paul, not because I was mad or he wasn’t perfect for me but because I wanted to be a corporate girl with a window office in a big city…..jokes on me. I broke up with him and he proposed in response. And everything in me screamed yes! And I haven’t regretted it once in 30 years.
The first time my parents met him my dad looked at my mom as we drove off and said “Well she has met her match.” And boy was that true. 30 years, 2 businesses, 2 kids, one of which suffered major head trauma at 18 months old, one daughter in love , two granddaughters, vacations, sick parents, marathons, Saturday shenanigans and more. We have laughed, cried, fought and made up more times than I can count, but at the end of the day he’s there, steady, able, ready to catch me if I fall and cheering me on every time I get a crazy idea.
I don’t know how or when we figured it out, but we did and I thank the Lord every day for him. I think this version of my life is way better than the one I dreamed of as a little girl. What’s the saying, man plans, and God laughs. So glad HE knows what’s best for me.
