Once upon a time, many, many years ago, there lived a single mom with two wonderful kids, one girl, one boy. This single mom was struggling to spend as much time as she could with her beautiful children, work full time to make ends meet, keep house with the little time she had, and cook decent food with a very small amount of money. She was as content as she could be with her life, at the time. She was so busy with life, she didn’t even realize she was walking the wrong path. She didn’t know there was another plan.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
As a kid, she had gone to church with her “Nanny” (grandma), gotten saved, but due to a really bad experience, only associated “church” with pain. The rest of her life had been filled with so much dysfunction, that she believed this was as good as it got, this was her lot in life. She had built so many walls around herself, she had pushed away all her friends, she had even unknowingly, pushed away Jesus. She didn’t know Satan was stealing her joy and that all she really needed was Jesus.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
One day, while toiling away at the office, she met the company artist, a handsome, single man who was liked by all the lovely ladies. She, however, didn’t care for him too much. She really didn’t think men were all they were cracked up to be, at this time. You see, she had just gotten out of a very ugly marriage, from a not very nice man (not that she was perfect) and she knew she wanted to spend the rest of her life with only her kids. This single man was also pretty convinced he didn’t need a lady in his life either. But as time went on, he became like the flirty little boy who sat behind you in first grade and pulled your pigtails, annoying, but too cute to ignore. Eventually, he wore her down, broke through all her walls, and about three years later, she agreed to marry him.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
He whisked her away to a beautiful park in Florida for the ceremony, they spent some time with Mickey Mouse, did some romantic walking on the beach, and then it was time to head back to his new reality (a wife and two kids). It wasn’t too long before they became aware that baby would make five. It was a beautiful, baby boy and they were thrilled.
It was about this time the “train your child up in the way he should go” verse started becoming their reality. She had quit “church” at a young age, but her Nanny had taught her about Jesus, and was still praying for her. He, however, had not been raised in church, but had also gotten saved early in life, and her Nanny was praying for him, too. Both knew Jesus should be the center of their marriage and family and together set out to make it happen.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
Boy, did they ever jump in with both feet and before they knew it, everything in their life had changed. Teaching children about Jesus became their heartbeat. No child they came in contact with would not know how wonderful Jesus is and what a difference He will make in their lives, if they let him.
Soon, babies four and five came, identical twin boys. WHAT A JOY!! Oh my, how the Lord was blessing them. Time began to fly and before they knew it, their only daughter got married, and had their very first grandbaby (a princess), their four sons still live at home with them and keep their lives busy and full of laughter.
In May, it will be twenty years since the day she was whisked away to that beautiful park in Florida, by that, so called, annoying man she didn’t care too much for. She didn’t realize it at the time, but he was her true Prince Charming. They have lived and loved, laughed and cried, they’ve had lots of ups and lots of downs, but they continue to praise Jesus together and stomp on the devil together. She thanks Jesus for him everyday and she is overjoyed that, together, with the help of their Lord and Savior, they have created a Christ filled home for their family. They are in awe of Him and all He has done for them and through them.
The best part is all these years later, knowing all she knows now, she would do it again in a heartbeat, and they are still living happily ever after.
Counting it all Joy!!
Angel
