But God Had Other Plans – My Valentine’s Story
Welcome to TUESDAY TALK!
I’m so glad to have you join me this Tuesday for our weekly Tuesday Talk Link-Up!
Today we are going to have a blog hop of our love stories! (read my story below)
We celebrated ten years of marriage last year (2015). I’ve been saying we didn’t go back to our honeymoon spot (as we had planned). We took a trip to China. It seems God had other plans, but that’s ok. Our love story is that: God Had Other Plans.
Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to be a teacher. A mother, but also a teacher. I also wanted to go to Bible college. There was a small college about an hour from my home. I planned to attend it after graduating high school. But God had other plans. The year I graduated, my family moved to another church. It was so hard on me. It was the first time I was so unhappy with God and His plans. I didn’t want to attend this new church. I had only attended one church my entire life, and suddenly I had no desire to go to church.
I opted to stay at home the first year of college and go to the college five minutes away. I entered the education department. And I began attending a college Bible study.
One day during my sophomore year at the state college, a new guy approached me at church. He said his name was Jason. We struck up a conversation. But that was it. I had my sights set on attending the Bible college. But God had other plans. One day Jason was studying for his medical boards. A mutual friend at church called me up. “Hey,” she said. “I’m taking Jason some food while he studies. Want to come with me?” Super confused as to why I would have to come, I agreed to. My mom read between the lines and baked some cookies.
We took him food. Talked a minute. I thought that was it. It wasn’t. It was the beginning. He made a point to start sitting near me in church. And one Sunday, he offered to take me out to dinner. As our relationship bloomed, we realized it wasn’t by chance we would meet. He credits the cookies as to his initial attraction of me. He didn’t know my mom had baked them until about three years into our marriage. He was relieved I was just as good at baking cookies.
It seems God had always had a plan…..
You see, he went to medical school about two and half hours away from Charleston. In his third year, half of the class had to come to Charleston to conduct their clinical studies. He didn’t want to go. But his name was chosen, literally, out of hat to come. But God knew. God had it all planned. For us to meet. For us to fall in love.
I didn’t get to attend Bible college, but I did get a four-year Bible degree via a long-distance program. And for the record, I love our church. We have built life-long friendships at this church. And it is a special thing to attend church where you met your husband.
The past ten years seemed to have flown by. Two cats. One dog. Four kids. One adoption later, here we are. We’ve had a few hard years. I won’t paint a perfect picture. No love story is perfect. We both married imperfect people.
No matter the season, we choose each other. It something that has grown in our relationship. We know God has a plan, and it includes each other. We keep choosing each other. You see, when you say “I Do” you keep saying it. Everyday. Through every season. You keep saying: I do choose you. Again. And again. You and I both know marriage takes hard work. It takes making an effort. You cannot survive if you will not put forth the effort.
And it starts with a choice. Making the choice to love. To accept. To grow. – Together –
We would have never planned our life to go the way it did. God did, though. And it is so much better.
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God had other plans. How true! Our story sounds very similar. I also wanted to attend a particular college, but did not…and I wouldn’t have met my husband if I had. It is so amazing to look back and see how God worked in your life! I absolutely loved your story! You are a beautiful and inspiring couple! -Jessica, Sweet Little Ones
I love this post! Even when we think things aren’t going our way, He is working behind the scenes…even if it’s a random drawing out of a hat. Thanks for sharing on Tuesday Talk.
God totally had other plans! And your mom’s cookies are to credit! 😉
Sarah, what a sweet testimony! God’s plans are better!
I too wanted to attend Bible college, but God had other plans and brought my hubby into my life…I couldn’t imagine it any other way! Loved reading your story Sarah!
Love this, “but God had other plans.” And His plans are good indeed. Stopping by as your neighbor on the #RaRaLinkup. 🙂
Sarah, this is my first visit to your site, but I see you around on linkups I participate in. 🙂 It’s funny how God so often has other plans than the ones we think or expect would be best. I loved reading your love story, and how God brought you and Jason together. And, I love that you have adopted a precious child. Both of ours came to us through adoption.
I was older when God brought my husband into my life, but He did it right before Valentine’s day. 🙂 He’s got such a sense of humor. Enjoy celebrating your coming eleventh anniversary. We celebrate 20 next month. 🙂
Visiting from Holly Barrett’s place. 🙂
Such a sweet story of God’s planning in action Sarah! My husband and I met at a cowboy ministry camp in TN – I am from Scotland and he doesn’t like horses!!! #GodAtWork!!
I loved all the pictures, Sarah! Your dress is so pretty.
God had other plans! The story of our lives so often.
I know, I can relate to your story in so many ways. Glad to have stopped by today! Have a great week and thank you for hosting.
What a great love story! God does always have a plan, and I’m so glad you’ve been able to see that in your life and share it with us! Happy anniversary, by the way!
Love this! God always has a plan, and it is so fun and beautiful to look back at how His plans have all fallen into place.