You’re A What?

Continued from The Path… The beginning of this story starts HERE.

Andrew was a lot like mushrooms after a bad rain. He just kept popping up. I never complained about this either. Since he worked at the other end of the mall, he’d drop by on his lunch breaks. So for the next month I took my lunch with him in the food court.

Let me clarify one thing. We weren’t dating! I wasn’t dating two guys at the same time. There was no hand holding, kissing or romantic talk. We never even left the mall during this “testing of the waters.”

When I was pressed once again about becoming a Catholic, I finally decided which path I wanted to take: Batchelor # 2. The day after I cut that tie, Andrew and I immediately began dating. 

On our first official rendezvous Andrew revealed that he was a Christian. How did this escape my defenses!? I thought to myself, why can’t I meet a guy who isn’t religious!? Later that day he made up for it with hand holding and kissing. (Hehe.)

Though I wasn’t thrilled that I’d traded a Catholic for a Protestant it was too late! Andrew had won my heart.

I find it really amusing, now, that Protestant means “I don’t want to be a Catholic!” Jesus had me pegged alright.

Is Jesus my What? 

There was another time that I was asked if I was a Christian. Just after Andrew and I we’re engaged, the Pastor who was doing our marriage counseling asked me if Jesus was my Lord and Savior. (Gulp.) I was near certain that he was asking me if I was a Christian, but the words Lord and Savior freaked me out!

Did he really ask what I think he asked? What do these words mean? What should I say? I sat there like a deer caught in the headlights. It was a long awkward silence. I still don’t remember what happened after that, but I do know what these words mean now. They’re all good, and yes He is!

Questions 

Easter Sunday left me feeling melancholy. I didn’t understand why everyone was so emotional during the church service–including Andrew. I was sure there must be something wrong with me. 

That same evening Andrew and I talked about this. Then I asked him about some Bible stories that I’d recalled from my childhood. It wasn’t long before he popped the question. Understandably, he was eager to know if I was interested in becoming a Christian. Nonetheless, I was hesitant to answer, mostly out of fear that I’d have to go through some strange, agonizing ceremony, so I replied sheepishly, “I don’t know.” 

To this Andrew responded, “There is no ‘I don’t know.’ It’s either yes or no.”

Trained by Master Yoda he was, hmmmm? This is a true story. My husband is an interesting character.

Fortunately, this was another one of those pushes that I needed. Hence, I agreed to this proposal as well.

Thankfully, no strange agonizing ceremony was required. Well, sort of. There was that whole baptism thing. It only took me 5 years to work up the courage to do this! Better late than never, right? This is true. I had serious stage fright, but one day it occurred to me that if I didn’t just take the plunge I would never do it. I wanted to do it!

It wasn’t so bad. The Pastor tries to drown you, but at the last second he quickly pulls you out of the water! Then everyone is SO happy and there’s some singing! Now I’m really missing church. 😄

Decisions

When I took my leap of faith I made the absolute best decision of my life. Only a couple of months after I embarked on this new adventure of faith, Andrew and I made our union official as well. That decision wasn’t half bad either.

Yes, I’m laughing. I can’t do overly romantic publicly. It’s one of my hang-ups.

Though at times the journey hasn’t been easy, I’m not looking back—only to see how far we’ve come. My Lord and God has seen us through. I can forget this in those deeper valleys. However, He graciously and mercifully continues to turn darkness into light before us. He will do it again.

—

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Isaiah 43:18-19

And The Best is Still Yet to Come ❤

So wonderful shall be God’s future interpositions in your behalf, that all past ones shall be forgotten in comparison.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary