My Love

He came into my life with a big grin.  It was my first impression, and the image is still clearly seen in my mind. 


His cousin had described him to me in the early school day rush of a Friday morning.  Students were gathering in the rooms around us, jean-clad teachers were smiling that Friday smile, and the Lord sent His messenger to "introduce" me to the man I would soon marry.  From her first question- "Do you have a boyfriend?", I knew this conversation was going to be a good one. She went on to describe to me her cousin, Kevin.  Multiple endearing descriptions were punctuated by one final thought- "Oh, and he has red hair. Is that a problem?"  It wasn't.


Never in a whisper of my mind, could I have imagined there would be a man who would fit with me so perfectly.  From our first weekend of meeting, I knew that he was the man that I had waited my whole life to know.  He had the kindest eyes, and the most thoughtful way of listening to the conversations around him. I found him to be sincere, easily taken to laughing, and he had clearly been blessed with a big heart.  His earnest desire to love the Lord, seek to do His will, and the way he was choosing to live out his life captured my heart.


It was a few months later, as I saw Kevin teaching a class on apple pruning, that love entered my heart in a soft and gentle way.  I saw him thoughtfully instruct, knowledgably answer questions, and truly care to see that those people learned a new trade that day.  The very next day, I was able to sit under his speaking, in a small church where he regularly helps to fill the pulpit.  I saw God speaking through Him that day, and I saw a man committed to the same love for our Lord that I was.


One weekend's meeting had turned into phone calls, and eventually visits across the 3 hours distance that separated us.  Eight months later, as we were standing before our loved families and friends, directly in the middle of God's call on our lives, we committed ourselves to each other in marriage. It was the most wondrous fulfillment of years of prayers and pleas to the Lord to make me who He needed me to be, so I could someday be the wife He wanted me to be.


He daily continues to answer that prayer in our life here, with the country always calling to us.