Lisa

You know that feeling you get when you've got something really cool you want to share with others? Whether it's new clothes or a game or some new tech device, you can't wait to put on display the really cool thing that you have been given.

I think that's the way I feel about Lisa--the way I have felt since we "survived" our first date together. You see, Lisa and I were paired up on a blind date by some friends of hers and my sister and brother-in-law. The only time I had ever seen Lisa before dinner that night was on a real estate ad in a grocery cart at Kroger. (She still says it's the best advertising dollars she ever spent).

The three couples met at a restaurant and we shared dinner together. That's about all we shared. The other two couples, along with Lisa, were connected to real estate in some regard. So, much of the evening was spent talking about home sales and real estate stuff. Things I had no desire to talk about. I spent most of the evening watching an NBA game on the TV behind Lisa's head and checking my watch. After completing dinner, we made our way out to the parking lot. I had already committed to join them at my sister's house for dessert or I would have made a clean get-away. Instead, I begrudgingly invited Lisa to make the short drive to my sister's with me.

She climbed into the truck in silence. I couldn't tell if she was having a good time or not. I knew I wasn't. After a few minutes of silence, I laid it all on the line for her. "Lisa, I hate dating. I always have. I didn't even like it college or high school. But I really think that God wants me to get married again. So, if it were up to me, God would place a light bulb over the head of the woman I'll someday marry and we'd skip the dating and get on to the fun of doing life together." She laughed and nodded. The tone of the evening began to change.

After dessert, I took her home and walked her to her door. She wouldn't have let me in except for the fact that it was about 15 degrees outside. She wasn't going to let a man in her door until God was ready for it. I walked in, told her I had a nice time (which was a half truth) and asked if I could call her again. She wrote down her number, handed me the card and opened the front door to let me out. This girl wasn't playing. She was not going to open her heart until she had met God's man for her.

Before I stepped towards the door, I made a request. "Before I go, do you mind if I pray with you?" Lisa closed the door, walked across the entry way and stood beside me. She laid her head on my shoulder and began to sob.

I was afraid. I thought to myself, "What in the heck have you done?" But I prayed anyway and thanked God for our evening and for this exceptional young lady that he had allowed me to meet.

She's been mine ever since...or maybe I should say that I have been hers. And it's been one amazing journey. Tomorrow (or today, depending on when you are reading) we celebrate three years together. We have packed so much into those three years that I can hardly believe it.

And today, three years later, I still have that same feeling that says I can't wait to show her off, to let the whole world see what an amazing gift God gave me on that cold February night. I hope that it never goes away. I hope that every day, every turn in our journey is lived to the fullest potential we can. Through it all, I pray that our life together will be lived for Him and His glory.

I love you, Lisa. Thanks for letting me in the door that night. I hope you don't ever regret it!