Real Life Love

Courtesy of Marie Prince, Pennsylvania

I received this letter from a neighbor who reads the devotional. In trying to maintain her 'voice', I have left it as she wrote it, other than some minor  changes to improve the readability.  I found it inspiring and encouraging - I hope you do as well!
~ Rosalyn

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Back in 1989 in the early spring I very lonely. For a young woman who was almost 21, I had no one to share my life  and my faith. I had a job but lived at home.

Well, after having a hard time getting someone to date me I thought, 'I am going to pray about this.' I prayed one night and asked God -- “Please God, help me to find a wonderful man that is like me: hard of hearing, willing to go to church with me, and share a life with me.”

That June, I saw a man in town with a hearing aids on. I noticed how he was hanging out with the lady I babysat for. I asked her about him, but she didn't know who I was talking about. Then I found out his name was Ray, and again I asked her: “Do you know Ray?” Again she said no. I asked again a week later – I told her he wear hearing aids. “Oh! You mean BUSTER!” She said.

I laughed. “Buster? That's a funny nickname...”  She jumped out of her chair, “Hey we gotta get you two to meet, He's perfect!”

In my mind I was like, 'That's just talk, it'll never happen...'

A few day later she called me, “Get down here now, I'm taking you over to meet him.”

I was so nervous around men, I just assumed he wouldn't like me. I dressed like a slob, expecting the worst. When I met him we sat down he showed me his new hearing aids he got and then he said he needed to get new boots for work. Of course I invited myself on his shopping trip, but told him I needed to rush home to change clothes.

We went to the mall and had pizza and that was our first date. Towards the end of July I invited him to attend church with me but told him, “You don't have to go”. The service was outdoors, and the first time he went he said he really liked the church and our pastor and ask if he could start going with me every Sunday! I was surprised he asked.

Then we started to date and that December we got engaged. A few years later we got married outdoors behind our church. I told him how I prayed for someone like him -- he said he was glad I did.

It was weird because we never knew each other, even though he lived over the hill from me. I must have rode my bike by his house many time when I was a teen. But he attended a deaf school and I want to a hearing school.

That's one great thing about God: How he found love for us to share in our christian life.

This month we'll be married for 19 years, together 22 years.

When I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go...
Song of Solomon 3:4 ASV