February 14, 2017
This past weekend my One Fine Day band friends and I played for a Valentine’s banquet. We thought it would be fun to would throw a few love songs into our sets and we enjoyed playing some old favorites, “You Again” was one of my choices.
I first heard “You Again” back in 1987 when I was in junior high school…I loved it then, but I love it even more now. I’m a big fan of the Forester Sisters’ music and Paul Overstreet’s songwriting. They have always struck a chord with me. But this song is extra special because 30 years later, I have actually experienced the words.
From the first line, when it talks about looking at life “through the eyes of a young girl growing older all the time,” I find myself taken back. Back to the years of being single and wondering who I would walk down the aisle to, raise kids with and grow old alongside of. More than once I hoped the one had come along and I prayed for a proposal. And more than once, God didn’t answer my prayers the way I wanted.
Now I understand that He knew what was best for me, and one by one, steered me away from each wrong boy. Then in 1996 I met Steve and my heart was overwhelmed by the knowledge that he REALLY was the one. Honestly, I don’t even remember having to pray for a proposal. I think I just knew it was going to come and 3 months later it did.
Sometimes I wish the older and “little wiser” me could go back and tell younger me to wait. Just wait. The right one will come, don’t go with that boy…it will only lead to heartbreak. But on the other hand, had I not gone with the other boys in my life, I would not have experienced what I did. And my heart for women’s ministry would not be the same. Plus, I would not see the stark differences between those boys and my husband.
I appreciate so many of the qualities my husband has, because I didn’t see them in the other boys I dated. I think how different my life could have been without a husband with those admirable qualities. How it would have affected not only our marriage but everything: parenting kids, finances, our home, the future…everything. I am so grateful for the life I have with Steve, I would not want to miss experiencing this story.
Now don’t go thinking that I am saying I have the perfect husband or the perfect marriage. There is no such thing and the quicker we all stop thinking that perfection is the goal, the better. But I am certain that I ended up with the right husband. Marriage has not been easy for us, (Click here to read more of our story) but we have come to the conclusion that we have a good marriage and that is “good is good”.
We will celebrate our 20th anniversary this June and after all these years together, I can confidently say that if I were given the choice…I would still choose him again.
