The surprise of story

We had a couple over last night for dinner. We've known him for awhile now and his story makes me cry every time I even look at him. I love him. He's grandpa and a man with a lost lover all in one. He's getting married! Again. And I've watched him go through the journey of receiving love again, and learning to love a new woman. As much as I can, he is older than my parents and there's only so much I can know.

She, I've never known. She is new to our community here and seems a bit like a fish out of water, and yet confident. But clearly is really fond of him.

And so I've watched. For quite some time now. I see them on Sundays and had my first conversation with her earlier this year at a party. He told me a bit of her story, that she had been hurt & left by her previous husband. But that's all I knew. So then he lets me know he is proposing and then we got the wedding invitation. Kevin and I decided it was time to have them over and hear this whole thing out.

Last night we shared a meal with this amazing couple. And I got teary eyed several times. I'm in awe people. In awe of story and the power of it, again. She shared her past. And a bit of who she is. Who knew? Right here in our community this woman of God who has been through so much. A leader to so many for so many years. A mother of 5 children who are raised. So strong she's had to be through the all out failure and deceit of a man which has cost her almost everything. And yet through it all she still...loves people. She has such a heart for people, for women. I told her I called dibbs on her being my mentor. But as is her style she didn't look flattered or even acknowledge that I'd said anything.

She sat at my table last night and said "I've always told women their identity can't be in their husband...now it was time for me to really live that out". As she continued her story I asked a hundred questions (grilled them really!). At one point we were talking about why she wanted to marry him. And she said, "Because he loves God more than he loves me".

Looking forward to celebrating their upcoming wedding and watching some more.