A Rollercoaster Romance? Not Exactly ( But had to be there somewhere.)

Ane Mulligan

Here's a gal with a Southern-fried sense of humour! In her own words:

When Rita asked me to tell you my story, I noticed her blog theme was Inspirational Romance. Now, when I think of romance novels, I think of lovers. When I think of lovers—stay with me here, I do have a point to this—I think of romantic heroes from books. But where do these amorous men come from? Don't try to tell me real life, I know better. So do they all come from our imaginations? Maybe the better word would be our fantasies—but I won't go there for obvious reasons.

Borrowing a term from the late author Kristy Dykes, my "hero husband" is a Brit. But don't conjure up images of Hugh Grant. Believe me ... not all Brits are romantic like him. Now, don't get me wrong; my Brit tries, but somehow he's not the model for a novel hero.

What? You think I'm mean? No way. I'm just realistic. You want proof you say? All right ... here's what happened the night I met him. It was a blind date and I was paired with the other fellow. When it came time to go on the rollercoaster, neither of us was willing. I don't do rollercoasters and neither did he. When the other two came off, we remained in the new pairing. A few months later, we were married. So I guess you could say a rollercoaster brought us together, and his motorcycle cemented it, but was it romantic? Uh ... no. But I can say that we've been married 40 years and counting.

And he stuck with me when I took up this crazy world of writing. Of course, it was all his idea. I guess he figured anyone who could read 200 books a year (no exaggeration) should be able to write one and recoup some of that money. Boy, did he have that wrong ... the recoup part, I mean. Y'all know what most novelists make. And it isn't a quick trip to stardom.  He thought it might be like my plays. The first one I wrote was published, and after that, my editor at LifeWay bought everything I sent her. Novels, on the other hand, are a whole different subject. I've been on this journey for 8 years. I've been to editorial committee and pub board so many times they've installed a revolving door for me.

But the hubs stuck with me through it all, and even through my "rollercoaster" search for my birth family. After finding my mother, who did not want a relationship, I honored her wishes and didn't contact her again. But I knew I had some sisters out there and would have loved to know them. Having no idea of their names, it was an impossible task.

I gave it over to God and forgot about it. Well, not entirely. A few times each year, I would think about them and wonder. Ten years after I found my mother, a friend of my sisters found me. The whole story is on my Adoption Share blog, if you're so inclined to read it. I flew to Seattle and met them. It was like we'd always known one another, we're so much alike.

Whatever your dreams are, I can testify that God is able and trustworthy with them.

Thanks, Ane for sharing. Sometimes we can go overboard on the romance. It's the love shown by commitment in the "stickativeness" through thick and thin! (Your Brit deserves a medal!)

http://www.anemulligan.com,   And her adoption blog: http://www.adoptionshare.blogspto.com.

A Wartime Romance - World War I

Beatrice, Rene, and Dora Dunsford

Beatrice Dunsford and her sisters enjoyed their

 

happy family existence until their father suddenly died. With their mother widowed and money scarce, they each searched for a job that would help the family finances.

Their little brother, Dickie, was a concern to his mother because he cried so often for his darling daddy, and she also never got over the shock of losing her husband for many years. She clung to her faith in the Lord, a real comfort in her grief, and always looked for His Second Coming.

The eldest sister, Dora, married first, and left to begin a new life with Charlie a clever banjo-mandolin player.

The second girl, Beatrice, became an excellent typist and with her looks attracted many young men. However, heartbroken after a failed romance with a handsome young Jewish man, she turned to another young man who told her he was going to marry her on their first outing. Flattered, she finally agreed. But by that time he had joined up as a volunteer. Their romance and courtship was all too brief, and they barely had a week's honeymoon before Harrie Mackie Kinnear was shipped abroad to fight in the Great War. No wonder Beatrice looked so sad in their wedding photograph... Harrie was one of the fortunate ones who returned at the end of that awful time to find he was a daddy. In those days soldiers weren't counseled for the traumas they suffered, and Beattrice never could quite understand his silences, nor he sudden flares of anger. More children followed, but two tots died as three-year-olds. One was lost to diptheria and a childhood accident took their beloved little girl from them. It was only then after a sweet Christian lady visited them that they too found a faith in the Lord and that one day they would again see their little ones. Because of their love for these little ones, they began a Sunday School in their home. It wasn't too much longer before this began a small church of believers in the nearby suburb of Russell Lea.

Harrie enjoyed his work as a signwriter and for many years his work was on public view on the small metal signs naming the variety of flora in Sydney's Botanical Gardens. Some years passed before the NSW government accepted them for the position of matron and manager of various Aboriginal reserves, as they were called in those days. And long after Harrie "retired" he was still involved at painting jobs in Christian camp sites. Their long life together was severed on this earth when Harrie went to be with the Lord. Now they have both joined all their children and their friends in Heaven as they enjoy the Lord's Presence.

FROM TRAGEDY to TRIUMPH

Tears sprang to my eyes at Jon and Teri Anne's story, so here it is in her own words.

"News of a fatal car accident involving a young church member buzzed around the office that blustery October morning. Less than six months before, I had accepted the invitation to join the staff of my former church, moving back across the country where I taught in a Christian school, to Arkansas, where I became the director of children’s ministries. 

In a few moments, a tall young man suddenly entered the reception area where I sat.  He swiftly stepped inside out of the wind and shut the door behind him.  Glancing up from my notes, my eyes met his momentarily.  In that moment, the thought came to mind, “That is the man you are going to marry!”  His eyes were blue, but somewhat dazed.  His sandy-colored hair was windblown. When I noticed a wedding band on his finger, I could only be thankful no one could read my mind.  Dismissing my thought as random, I greeted the young man and asked how I could be of help.  As soon as he mentioned his name, my heart jumped!  That October morning and the events that led up to it changed both our lives forever.

My parents had always shared with me the love of Jesus and that He had a perfect plan for my life. They instilled in me the importance of keeping myself for the man He had for me to marry one day, and they instructed me to pray for that young man as he was growing up, too. As I neared the end of my college career, the burden to pray for the man I was to marry strengthened. That burden took on a new dimension when a close friend and mentor married a young widower in our church.  The concept of marrying a widower was new to me, and her experience gave me pause. Could it be that the Lord had a similar plan for my life?  The man before me in that church office was the one who had just lost his wife in that tragic accident the night before. He was there for an appointment with the pastor.

It didn’t take either of us long to realize that Jon’s appointment that day was also a Divine appointment. In the course of the following weeks, Jon and I both received nudging from friends and church leaders to consider the other. I mentioned Jon to my parents, and together we began praying for him.  I felt loneliness, too.  I frequently wept and shared with the Lord during this time how much I longed for companionship—someone to love, someone who needed me! 

Meanwhile, Jon’s Sunday School teacher finally convinced him to attend the singles’ Christmas party.  I also decided it was better than staying home alone...again!  As I descended the stairs to join the party that evening, there stood Jon.   He caught my eye and in no time had initiated a conversation with me.  We enjoyed some wild ping-pong competition and we laughed a lot.  That entire evening he gave me his undivided attention. Over the next several weeks, we shared many sandwiches as we talked, read Scripture, and prayed together.  It was a glorious, whirlwind romance!  And soon, we were engaged.  With the encouragement and full approval of our families, pastor, and friends, we were blissfully married. Yes, the Lord had answered my prayers in a miraculous and timely manner.

Some time later, we learned that we would soon welcome a new little life…we were going to be parents!

It was a very arduous pregnancy, and my health continued to fail.  I was hospitalized five-and-a-half weeks before my due date, and my doctor elected to induce labor.  Even so, Jonathan David arrived healthy and strong.  The Lord had again answered our prayers. 

Within the first five weeks after Jonathan’s birth, as my health continued to fail, three specialists confirmed a diagnosis of systemic lupus.  That was the beginning of a long episode of health issues which only spurred our faith and trust in our Heavenly Father.The following year after successful surgery for endometriosis, I became pregnant with our second baby! Jonathan, then five, was going to be a big brother at last. Within the first trimester, however, our precious little one silently slipped into the arms of Jesus. Eighteen months later, we mourned the loss of yet another baby. My systemic lupus flared with each pregnancy, causing the babies' hearts to fail. Each time our hearts were broken, too.

But the Lord was not finished showing His greatness and mercy. We were surprised to learn we were expecting yet another baby.  By now I was considered high risk. One of my specialists actually told me to go home and wait for this baby to die, too. The lupus was already active, and he gave me no hope for a full-term pregnancy. Once again, Jon and I turned to the Scriptures for comfort and encouragement. We pleaded with the Lord to spare this child and show His power. Eight long months later, Jonathan finally became a big brother to little Jeffrey Duane, who arrived in perfect health and with the strongest newborn heart the pediatrician had ever heard!  The Lord had again answered our prayers.      

 

Both boys have grown into committed Christian young men who passionately love the Lord. And as Jon and I now face the empty nest, our prayers continue for our boys and for the young ladies the Lord has for them to marry one day. May they find the kind of love with which we have been blessed these past 28 years.  It is now 2011, and our love continues to grow!"

This is a wonderful story of the Lord's faithfulness and how two young people grew closer together through all their trials. Thanks for sharing Teri.

    

 

Don't Forget the Little Things

Little things do mean a lot. It's another way of showing you care.

After the courtship and all that goes with it comes the wedding. And the wedding only lasts for ONE day. And many times after the honeymoon period it's amazing how soon romance is allowed to fade. Couples begin to take each other for granted. Oh, big mistake! Such a loving union between a man and a woman is so precious, it needs to be nurtured. Treat your other with courtesy always. It's a way of being faithful to your vows before God. How can men and women speak to the one with whom they share their bodies with rudeness and sometimes contempt? How can they belittle that one in front of others?

But treating that special person with kindness never goes out of fashion. A cup of tea/coffee when one person feels down. Washing up when their other has prepared and cooked a nice meal. A shoulder massage. A back rub. Bringing home a living plant in a pot, (lasts longer than cut flowers & is a constant reminder.) Chocs never go astray! A wink from across a crowded room. Holding hands when in public. A hand squeeze showing empathy when words seem empty. A hug a day. Cultivate an amiable personality. Tension begets tension. That soft word turning away anger really works. Bring a bit fun into your life. Laughter has been proven to be a healthy release for the psyche and the body.And  don't forget forgiveness. How important is that? We humans might have high ideals but so often stray from our own guidelines. Jesus said we need to forgive those who have hurt us...every time. Why? Because we're going to be needing forgiveness for our harsh words or mean spirits!

Oh, there's a million other ways you can add in building a wonderful and contented relationship.

Romance Withered in Their Marriage Mess

The blood red of a rose always speaks of true love

"How did I get into this mess? Why did I marry this man?"

Max didn't seem to understand how lonely I was. He was stationed at an army barracks in Hawaii. I felt like I was on a deserted island. He had his work and his buddies while I had two small children and no one to talk to.

Arguments were the norm when I often demanded he spend more time with his family. He just responded that if he knew I felt like that then he should have remained as a single man. "And who says I have to change, anyway?" he'd yell.

Was I expecting too much? But Max regularly took an overnight 'charge of quarters' duty. He attended plenty of get-to-gethers with his buddies. He played on his unit's baseball team which required daily practices and games once or twice a week. On top of these interests, he also trained for triathlons in nearby cities. It's just that now we were married with children, I expected him to be there for his family. All the courtship and romance we'd once shared had simply withered and died!

To make a long story short as they say, I met another young married woman whose husband was a naval officer. Best of all, she didn't mind that my husband was only an enlisted soldier. And this dear person took me under her wing just when I was at my lowest. Over the next month we soon became fast friends. She invited me over for lunch many times where we shared our interests. And we baby-sat for each other.

Bea always seemed to know exactly what I needed. Whether it was food, treatment for children's ailments, or encouraging words. She shared about her marriage and her role as a wife and mother. As our relationship grew, I opened my heart and described the struggles in our marriage. Bea shared what she knew from God's Word, but I knew I'd done too many wrong things for God to care about me. And I told her that I was sure He couldn't forgive me. But Bea persisted and quoted John 3:16 , "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life."

Over the following months I learned so much, that when she asked if I was ready to trust God I readily agreed. Now everything would be happy in my marriage and it would improve one hundred percent. But that same night when Max returned, he sat opposite me and demanded a divorce! How could this be happening?
He gave me an ultimatum. "Either I get to do what I want to do, or I'm out the door. I'm not trying to change you, and you shouldn't try to change me."

He was partly right but I couldn't let him go so easily. "Okay, Max, if that's what you really want, but can I share some things with you I learned from the Bible?"He nodded, and I told him where the Bible said from Genesis 2:24 that a man should leave his father and mother and become one flesh with his wife. He sat awhile then said, "What else does it say?" So I read more passages from the Bible about how wives and husbands are to behave. We stayed up half the night talking over these Scriptures and then Max asked me to forgive him. And two months later my husband gave his heart to the Lord.

God gradually taught me how to let go the reins of my life and marriage and trust in Him. And as time passed God restored our marriage and made it whole. We actually fell in love with each other all over again. But it was a different kind of love. It was stronger and deeper than when we were first married and now we're closer than ever. Yes, it took God's power to clean up the mess in our lives...and to make me glad I married that man!
Story by Liz M.

FROM BANGKOK with LOVE - Somchai & Saenthong

Somchai interprets for George - Hmong Tribal New Year celebrations

"I tasted the blood on my cut lip and smelled the sweat of my own fear. The roar of the crowd faded beneath the sound of my own racing heart beat and the grunt of my opponent as I landed the next brutal blow. I knew about the Christian ideal of turning the other cheek, but that was not for me. I was a fighter.

"My name is Somchai - macho man. As a Muay Thai kick boxer, my duty was to deal out and counteract lethal blows while aiming for victory and ruining the career of my opponent in the ring. The satisfaction of delivering vicious, lightning-fast punishment was one way to overcome my own body's agony after the match was fought and won. I owed it to myself, my reputation, and my hordes of faithful admirers to obtain victory. I rode high on their supportive cheers and the excitement I generated as I contended in furious battles of hardened muscles and wits. And I paid my fans back handsomely with the huge amounts of money they made when I won. Yes, I was invulnerable!

After the match I felt their love and concern over my bruises as I jumped from the ring and they touched me for luck. Often hurting badly, I'd only stagger later when no one could see. It didn't matter if the pain made me sick to my stomach, for soon these good fellows would take me out to the best of Bangkok's nightclubs. They would ply me with liquor to dull the soreness of my ribs and the stiffness of my battered thighs. After all, I was the triumphant warrior straight from a glorious battle, or so they continually assured me.

I don't know why it never occurred to me that while they were getting richer and fatter, I was suffering more and more. But popularity is a strong drug; a little is not enough. I was proof to them of what it meant to be a real man. I was making good money, too, and one day I'd buy a big home and a flashy car. I would also be  on equal footing with a man who deals in gold jewelry. And better still, I would have my pick of all those beautiful girls we Thais are so proud of!"

Somchai went on to admit that all the drinking, smoking, and carousing, were softening him up for something really bad. because one night after a long session with his friends, he doubled over with an agony that would not quit. Mercifully, he was taken to the nearby Bangkok Christian Hospital where he was operated on for stomach ulcer perforations. But even through his pain, he believed he would fight again. After all, pain wasn't new to him and his career was his life. But as day followed dreary day without any visits from his "friends", his depression deepened. But still he made excuses for them, until the truth finally sunk in like the venom of a cobra strike. They didn't care! For now they'd be fawning over other young hopefuls.

Somchai continues:  "Right there at the lowest point, God stepped into the ring of my life. A group of young Christians from a nearby Church visited me and told me all about Jesus, and how he died to take away the penalty of all my sins. I didn't need convincing that I was a sinner, and I responded immediately. And after I asked Jesus into my life, the great weights of disappointment, frustration, and bitterness left me. And I felt as fine as I always did in the ring before a match!"

His old "friends" weren't interested in the new direction his life had taken. They believed Christianity was a Western religion and shunned him. But Somchai discovered he now had a hunger for spiritual things and he joined the same church as his new, young Christian friends. He even entered Bible College to discover all he could about the Bible. With his proficiency in English, he began translating for missionaries. And it was while he preached the Good News about Jesus in Phuket that he met Saenthong. She had been brought up by missionaries and as a teacher in Maths, also spoke English. Well, it didn't take too much convincing her that this enthusiastic young man was the right man for her. They both had a longing to share the Gospel.

Nowadays, and after their two sons were grown, she teaches children and young people, while Somchai reaches adults. Saenthong also answers correspondence from the thousands of Thai Gospels of John that we hand out to school children, prisoners, hospital patients, and in open air situations. They make a wonderful team, and George and I are privileged to work together with them each year during Nov/Dec. We travel out from their home in the heart of Bangkok, to every area of Thailand, and continually praise the Lord for bringing them together.

PEN PALS...Sharing Dreams with Words

If you asked a young person today what a Pen Pal was, I don't think they'd know. After all, apart from rare enthusiasts, who

writes letters today? Before emails and texting came into existence, you actually put pen to paper! You popped it into an envelope, stamped it, and waited for your precious words to reach their destination. Then you waited with growing anticipation for an answer.

Don't you think that's kind of lost today, with an immediate reply? No time to wonder what the other thought. No delicious sense of looking forward to reading every word written in your special friend's handwriting. And once it was ink, not biro! A mistake was carefully crossed out, and you'd try to see what it was. And the style. Sloped; scrawled; scratchy like bird's tracks; perfect copperplate. They say our writing reveals a lot about us. Hm, maybe untidy? And last, how was it signed off. Sincerely? Faithfully? Or best of all, With all my love.
                                                                                 
I wonder if young Canadian, Isobel, studied her Australian pen pal, Keith's hand writing in this way? Keith had begun their long distance friendship when he saw her picture on his friend's mantlepiece. His friend's wife happened to be Isobel's cousin, Margaret. Now as Keith was an enthusiastic aviation enthusiast he'd naturally fill his letters with his interests. But Isobel wasn't quite sure how to take this young man and felt a little reserved at how much she should share with this brash Australian. However, they went from writing to actual sharing of tape recording each others' comments. So from then on, reels began their travels across the Pacific. He already knew what she looked like, but how wonderful to actually hear her voice!

Cousin Margaret was pregnant at the time, but because they'd recently moved from the country to the big city, she didn't know anyone well enough to care for her other young children when hospitalised.  Why not cousin Isobel? With mid-winter in Toronto, a trip to sunny Australia beckoned. So, when the P&O liner, Oronsay, docked in Sydney Harbour, who should be there to meet her, along with with her cousins, but Keith, with expectancy written all over his handsome face.

 From the moment they met, they felt that they'd known each other 'forever'. Events took place at lightning speed and two weeks after Isobel's arrival, the pair were engaged. Three months after that on May 10, 1957, the marriage ceremony took place in Hurstville Brethren Assembly, followed by their honeymoon. They never went through a period of adjustment because they were at ease with each other. And they knew that God had blessed their marriage.

After looking after her cousin's three little girls, Isobel applied for  teaching position. But after about a year passed, her parents were anxious to see their new son-in-law, so they packed up and returned to Toronto, spending part of their time there and part in Australia. Two of their children are Canucks and two are fair dinkum Aussies! ( Just kidding.) Keith & Isobel continue to thank the Lord for bringing them together and for all the blessings, far too many to count, that have been heaped upon them.