|
CONTEST ENTRY - Rekindling an Old Flame
I fell in love with someone else just days before my wedding. Momentum had been building with all signs pointing to this love affair. I had been sidestepping it for so long and making excuses not to give into the wooing. He was an old flame and I had no intentions of falling in love with Him again, however, His pursuit was more powerful than I had ever imagined. On this particular sunny, southern morning, He finally won me over.
Before this lover began persistently courting me, I had plans of a wedding by the sea. I was engaged to a handsome soldier, who was to me like the brave knight who rescued the distressed damsel. We were very much in love, but little did we know that our mothers had conspired against us to do us good. Our mothers were women who had raised us to know better than to enter into a marriage that was not God-centered. We, despite their desires and pleas, had forsaken Christ years before and had no intention of allowing Him to be part of our union. Our mothers without our permission had been praying that God would bring a prodigal daughter and son, back into the father's arms.
The months, prior to this particular morning, had been flying by for me as I waited for my soldier to return from war to marry me and love me for the rest of my life. I kept myself busy with wedding plans and long e-mails. I tried not to let myself think that maybe someone else knew what was best for me. When the thought of God did creep into my mind, I chased it out for fear of what God would take from me. Certainly God would not let me have what I wanted more than anything in the world. He might take me back if I asked Him to, but He would take away my dreams of a beautiful, little house, a picture perfect husband and never-ending romance.
God's light shone into me one morning as I was chatting with that nosy, soon-to-be mother-in-law of mine. She had rarely given me a reprieve concerning the issue of my broken relationship with God. This particular morning was no different in one sense and completely different in another. This lazy, warm morning, I stopped running away from my pursuing lover. I started talking to Him again and He took me in His arms and left me breathless. For some reason, I did not stop and think about my fiancé and I did not consider the real possibility that I might have lost him. I had fallen in love with Christ and my blind eyes were opened by His amazing grace. It seemed at that moment that nothing else in the world mattered. What I did not yet realize is that God had been wooing someone else simultaneously. After I had unburdened my soul to God, I turned to look at my fiancé and his eyes were sparkling. He took me in his arms and told me that God had restored him to His presence only days before. He had gone to God without me and was fighting with the fear that I might not return to my first love, Christ. God did not let that happen. He united our hearts in love toward Him and our mothers breathed a big sigh of relief.
Several days later, with seagulls watching from a distance, the pastor asked us to bow our heads and pray, I could hardly contain my joy. The ocean waves were creeping toward us and then rushing away, my veil was blowing in the sea breeze, my bare feet were covered with sand, my hands were being held by a believing man and I belonged to Christ. I lifted my eyes to heaven and thanked God for doing so much more for me than I could have ever imagined was possible.
|
|