This picture is actually from 1999, over a year after that first dance.
It was at a Valentine's dance at the high school. I was 16, he was 17, almost 18. We'd known eachother for a couple years, and I even went on a date with him once about a year and a half before (much to my mother's displeasure, not because of Dustin, just because I wasn't supposed to be dating). But all that time I had my heart set on various other guys. Well, two specifically, but not at once. Hmmm...that's funny to think about now. I used to dream about how I could make Josh mine and bargain with God, "if only he'll say he likes me, I promise to go to church every Sunday for the rest of my life." Well, that never happened. So then I moved on, I'd pray that Mike would notice me and claimed him to be the "love of my life". Obviously nothing became of that. So enter Dustin into the picture. My heart was still with Mike, or so I thought. But slowly Dustin began to win me over. He was just fun to be around, and I actually felt comfortable with him. I didn't feel like I had to be anyone else to get him to like me. He liked me for me. So I decided to give it a chance, in fact it took some convincing on the part of a mutual friend, but now I thank God I did. I still remember the very first song we danced to ten years ago, Truly Madly Deeply by Savage Garden. But as I write this story, a different song comes to mind. Whenever I hear this particular song it makes me so thankful for what I have, and so glad God didn't grant me my request so many years ago. I felt like I would never love anyone other than the above mentioned boys, you know how teenagers are. But God had something else in store for me, and it has turned out to be absolutely wonderful.
Here are the lyrics by Mr. Garth Brooks:
Just the other night a hometown football game
My wife and I ran into my old high school flame
And as I introduced them the past came back to me
And I couldn't help but think of the way things used to be.
She was the one that I'd wanted for all times
And each night I'd spend praying that God would make her mine
And if he'd only grant me this wish I wished back then
I'd never ask for anything again.
Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers
Remember when you're talking to the man upstairs
That just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean he don't care
Some of Gods greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.
She wasn't quite the angel that I remembered in my dreams
And I could tell that time had changed me
In her eyes too it seemed
We tried to talk about the old days
There wasn't much we could recall
I guess the Lord knows what he's doing after all.
And as she walked away I looked at my wife
And then and there I thanked the good Lord
For the gifts in my life.
Some of God's greatest gifts are all too often unanswered.
Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.
Dustin and I didn't officially start dating for another couple weeks, but I'll post more on that as the time comes closer. Until then, make sure you thank God for the gifts in your life, as I'll certainly be doing tonight.
1 comments:
Josh who? Mike who? I have to know!
Your story is very sweet. I think that sticking with your high school sweetheart is the way to go!
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