The Rest of Your Story 29: Who's ready to share some love?

This isn't what you think. It's not about mushy, pie-in-the-sky, singing-in-the-rain romance. (Although there is a little rain as you'll soon see. And there's a big surprise for you!)

Nope, this is about a different kind of love, a different kind of story...yours.

But let's start with the rain first.

One day as I gathered books and stepped into the hall I saw a familiar face wearing a smile and holding an umbrella. My future husband came to walk me through the rain. And my love story came to life.

Years later, during a difficult storm in my life God used that memory to show me that He, too, wanted to walk me through the rain. And my love story came to life.

Almost half a decade of hurt and hope went by. I shared what God had done with other women. It helped heal their hearts too. And my love story came to life.

We're made for love. And it comes whenever the divine shows up in the ordinary, whether that's through family, friends, a cause that captures our hearts, or totally unexpected moments.

Lean in and I'll whisper a secret...

It's not about happily-ever-after.

It's about eternity.

God is the Author and He is love. (Hebrews 12:2, 1 John 4:16)

That means we're all living a love story.

And not just on Valentine's Day but forever.

Now that's worth celebrating!

Photo by Molly Morton-Sydorak

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TODAY'S QUESTION: Share a love story from your life. (Remember, it doesn't have to be a romantic one...just a time when your heart felt real love.) 

DaySpring is sponsoring a special giveaway for all of you who do! You'll be entered to win a Love and Encouragement Collection that includes...

        

A Heart and Globe gallery print, a copy of Rain on Me (my devo), a beautiful box of cards, AND a Faith, Hope, Love bracelet. Together they're worth over $100!

You can leave your love story below or on the DaySpring facebook page (or do both for two entries!) by midnight CST on Wednesday, the 17th.

It's time to share the love...

UPDATE: Congratulations to Nancy Rockey for winning the Love and Encouragement collection! Her comment was chosen by the random number generator. You can read it here! Thanks to everyone who entered. All of you can use my friends and family code, holley20, to get 20% off anything and everything you'd like on DaySpring.com!

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Comments

[Eunice]

I will never forget the time at a Church Camp. The speaker was our Home School Bible Video teacher(when we were in school more than 10 years ago) whom we had never dreamed we would meet. It was the last day and we would all be heading home that afternoon. My sister and I went up to Pastor Redlin to thank him for all the messages and to ask him to please pray for us and our family. He didn't say very much but he reached out and gave each of us a hug. We both teared and nearly broke down. In that moment, we felt loved and that someone cared for us. We went away from that camp thanking God for miraculously sending us our Bible teacher from halfway round the world to minister to us.

[Becky]

Dear Holley,

If I've already shared this part of my story, I apologize. I was going to try and look back at comments I've made in the past to find out, but I thought that would take forever. Haha!

I grew up in the church. I even have worked 30+ years in the church. I've loved God my whole life and I thought I knew God. As it turns out, however, I really didn't. I knew Jesus as my Savior but I didn't really know my loving Father. It took something terrible -- cancer and death -- to do that...to make a real love story come to life.

It began the day my husband and I found out that his cancer had returned. Someone at the hospital must have seen that we received bad news and sent a loving hospital chaplain to us. She asked if she could sit and wait and pray with us while we waited to see the cancer doctor. It was very unusual that either my husband or I would say "yes" to that (because both of us are rather private people and we have a pastor and a church) but neither of us hesitated. I always thought that was strange. But it must have been the Holy Spirit's prompting us that day because that Chaplain meant so much to my husband. She was there for him (and me) through the following months of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hospital admissions. And, even though I was not her patient, she has continued to be there for me whenever I've needed her during my grief journey these last 15 months.

There was a time, quite soon after my husband's death, that I blamed God for it. I felt it was something He did to me. He took away what I needed the most so He must not really love at all. Then one evening, as I laid in bed, I realized something. I realized that God was there that day in the hospital and sent me that chaplain. He foresaw my need of her in the future and was already taking care of me. My real love story came to life that day. I felt so loved and it made all the difference. I also came to realize that God didn't cause my husband's death but He did foresee that, too. God has taken my hand and not let it go and led me through all of the days of my grief journey -- even carrying me when I've needed Him to. I've never been closer to Him and I love Him more than I ever have before.

Blessings!

[Cheryl]

“Just a Friend”"I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you”........ John 15:11-15 (The Message)How do we love in relationships as people of faith? A few years back, I was chosen by an elderly friend to walk beside her when she could no longer be independent. The first step of love was to listen...she often mentioned how hard it was to rely on me for help. She was right, I had more control of my life, yet, our friendship gave me a chance to explore the process of growing older. It also provided an opportunity of gratitude for the freedoms I did have. Being part of her world brought a depth to mine.As mentioned in the Scripture passage above there was certainly joy. Our time together was at a much slower pace than time with my teens. We talked and I rediscovered joy in just spending time together. Her room became a sanctuary from the fast pace of life with a guaranteed “glad to see you!” When we journeyed out, people would ask if I was her daughter. I would hold back a grin as she stated that she had never married so she had better not have kids. The usual silence that followed was a witness to generations that have experienced very little commitment to marriage. Her words gave them a chance to consider another way. Our time together also became a discovery of simple joys, like a ride past the lake or a lunch of protein and vegetables in the form of carrot cake.This time also brought some surprises. When helping facilitate a doctor’s visit early in the journey, the doctor pulled me aside to let me know that I didn’t have to do this - the state had people to do this. I was speechless; when asked by a friend for help that I could provide, he thought that I should require a stranger to do it. “How did you meet?” was a common question. It was a joy to say church but the friendship developed during our time at MAP...she wiped trays and I helped cook. I found that our society has been trained to be suspicious. My motives in this friendship were always questioned by others. Could I really be just a friend without an agenda of abuse? We grew to understand the definition of friend: somebody who trusts and is fond of another (http://www.bing.com/Dictionary/search?q=define+friend&FORM=DTPDIA). She would often say, “I’m not coming if she’s not with me” in new situations. The journey was now ours.I shared my journey to challenge discussion about friends in the coming month. The valentines are in the store. What does true love look like? What have you discovered in your journeys of love with friends? Slow down, discover joy, and share.

[Kimmo Lahtinen]

I was not so young anymore and I had lost hope to find a good wife. I had said to God that I am tired to find a girl myself so He can help if He likes.

I went to the bible study group as usual. It was quite big group, often like 30 people. That evening God pointed one beautiful girl and said "You are walking home with her!". I must confess that I said to God that no way. It was very cold night and I hoped to have a lift in someone’s car. But it was the Voice of God and we walked home together.

After that we walked often together and at the end of that year we walked together to the altar of an old church. We are still in love with each other. At the end of December we had our silver anniversary.

[Jeanne Helstrom]

Holley, I love your devotionals. Here's mine...

"My Mother’s Shoes"

Years ago, maybe 20 or so, my mother found her graduation shoes, a beautiful pair of navy blue soft leather high-heeled pumps with rounded toes, and the little rows of perforations, like men’s wing-tip shoes, in perfect condition…She asked me if I’d like them, because we wore the same size, and I said, yes, they’re not really in style now, but maybe someday I will wear them. Well, I put them away, someplace special, and didn’t really think about them again until last winter, when I saw the exact pair of shoes in SEARS! The precise style from 1945 had come back! I got excited, and when I came home I began looking for them. Of course, we had moved since I stored them away, and if you’re like me, there are boxes of things that you put away in the basement, and don’t think about again, for a long time ~ or until you need something that’s in them. I couldn’t find them. They weren’t where I thought they should be. But, I kept looking, and I prayed that God would help me to remember which box they were in. In a couple of days, I found them. Since I now have arthritis in my feet, I didn’t think I could wear them, but I put them on and they felt so comfortable, and I did wear them to church one Sunday, and I had to show them to everyone and tell them the astonishing story about my beautiful 63-year old shoes. My mother’s shoes.

Then I got to thinking about what it meant to wear my mother’s shoes. Wow. Could I even fill them? Since Mother’s Day had just past, I thought it would be a good time to share my thoughts. My mother has now been gone six and a half years, and I miss her terribly. She was my friend, my confidant, and she loved me fiercely, and I her. Every once in awhile I see a certain trait, or expression, or hear a tone of her voice in myself. What an honor! I love the things she loved. I “inherited” many of her favorite books, and they have become my favorite books. Treasures. She never, ever interfered in my married life, even when my problems broke her heart, but she was always there for me when I came to her ~ about anything. She remembered so much stuff ~ birthdays of my friend’s babies, for goodness sakes! She journaled, loved to write letters, (maybe this is where I got it), prayed everyday for her children and grandchildren. She was hopelessly devoted and faithful to my dad (who just passed away before Christmas two years ago, and who missed her so painfully). She taught me how to be a wife, a mother, a friend, and about God’s great love and mercy. And she showed me, by her own example, how to pray and trust our heavenly Father. She left a legacy of faith for her children that I hope to leave for mine, and theirs. I thank God for her, and pray for a little bit of the wisdom and grace in my own life that she possessed. And I know her spirit is with me as I still walk on this earth.

Not all of us have such wonderful memories of our mothers. I pray that God will bring to mind those special times spent with our moms, and if we don’t have mothers, He will provide someone to love and pray for us and our families. And if not, Isaiah 66:13 says: “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.” This is God speaking…He can, and wants to, fill any void in our lives. He has in mine!

From my heart,Jeanne Helstrom, Idaho

[Marion]

I was reeling from what turned out to be my mother's final illness. Tired and hurting from taking care of her. Afraid it would one day come to my having to change her after an "accident". It led me to wonder who would take care of me when my time came. God reminded as only He can that He had given me a wonderful husband. He would take very good care of me if it was needed. He will I know fight others to be the one to do it all, whatever was necessary, to take care of me. My husband isn't one to buy gifts when those times come or to help with dishes or meals, so much of the time I didn't appreciate him. I now know he would "be there for me" and that makes all the difference. He is my Peter... the pebble that shows me the Rock. He is as steady as God in my life. I praise God for him today, a blessing in our old age.

[Jan]

My story began 45&1/2 years ago when I, a Chicago girl, met my future husband at a Canadian resort while on vacation. It was love at first sight and 2 years later we were married. However, he was not a believer and I had fallen away until I was born again 10 years later. He was threatened by this and we could have broken up. However, we had 2 sons by this time and I really did love him so I chose to stay. I began praying for him and 4 years ago he began to change; he started reading the Bible, he became kinder and more thoughtful, and is very close to accepting Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Love & Prayer work; never give up!

[patricia]

I guess my love story is about Jesus finding a wretch like me. I grew up around alot of terrible stuff and was really a disaster waiting to happen, either jail or dead on the street. I am not married because I have not lived the way I should in the past and have a kind of Rahab testimony. So my love story is about Jesus coming to find me, taking all my horrible sins away. He used a friend I met while I was on the streets to give me a gift. I had very low self esteem and didn't really think anybody loved me. I always questioned whether God knew who I was and my hearts desires. I always thought He would mess up. Like a husband who just didn't know what to buy you. Well one holiday, I'm not sure if Christmas or Valentine's Day, a friend who didn't really know me, gave me a gift. It was a mirror, which was decorated and from Africa. You see I always had problems with feeling beautiful growing up mixed, because of feeling low I thought I was ugly. I always remember that, it was so special to me, as God knew my hearts desire and maybe is was a mirror as if to say God is saying you are beautiful. I created you, and I love you and know who you are. So I guess that's my love story.

[Matilda Batten]

My first marriage ended with an annulment, and I really never thought I would want to marry anyone else. However, my sister who lived in my home town called and asked if I would like to date a policeman when I got home that weekend. I hesitated at first because the two of us had different ideas about what men should be like. She said he had to be on duty at 11:00 p.m., so if I didn't like him, I wouldn't be with him very long anyway. I agreed to date him and I made sure he knew I wasn't looking for a husband. However, he was such a good man that I couldn't help but fall in love with him. We've been together now for 36 years.

When he was struggling with cancer, I thought I was going to lose him. I prayed every day that God would spare him. One night I thought maybe that wasn't what God wanted for him, and I told God that I didn't know how to pray anymore. I know it had to be God speaking to me when I heard the words, "Pray the Lord's Prayer." I prayed it slowly, meditating on each phrase, and I was sincere when I prayed the words, "Thy will be done." I truly believe God gave us a miracle because both of his doctors later told my husband that he almost died. This was five years ago, and I know I love this man now more than I ever did. I am just so grateful that we still have each other.

[Gloria]

My love story is not about me - it is about my earthly father. My dad was a carpenter who built custom homes for over 50 years. He worked in the heat of the summer taking salt pills to replenish the salt he lost; and in the winter his hands would crack and bleed from the cold. He worked sometimes seven days a week to provide for his wife and five children. He never had a bad word to say about anyone, and would always be the first to offer help if someone needed it. Despite his work schedule he found the time to be a volunteer fireman, a boy scout leader, he made 3 hiking trips with the scouts at Philmont, and he was director of the drum corps all five of us were involved with. However it was not his love and devotion to us kids that I am writing of today. It was and remains his devotion to my mother. My mother was not an easy woman to live with, yet dad remained at her side through everything and when she took ill he was her sole caregiver. She was a proud woman and did not want anyone to know what was happening to her, which often left dad isolated in his concern for her health and how to provide the best care for her. He showed his love for her everyday of the 53 years they were married; but that love was never more obvious than the day he told her it was okay to let go; that he knew she missed her mother who had passed many years before, and if she needed to leave he would understand. Three hours later she passed. There is not a day that goes by that he does not think of her and he remains devoted to her even in death. Witnessing his love and devotion has been a blessing to me and when I think that my heavenly father loves us greater than this - I am overwhelmed with the thought. I thank God for my Dad, his Christian example of love and putting the needs of others before your own.