Valentine’s Day represents a perfect opportunity to reflect on what it was about my spouse-to-be that cemented my heart to hers. For a twenty-something committing to one person for the rest of life is an enormous decision. The planet is ripe with opportunities, and practicality prevents a thorough assessment of all the options. One man who tried that on a small scale was Ahasuerus, and his story is in the Old Testament book of Esther. A second example is King Solomon who could not make up his mind and took more than his share, 700 wives to be exact (I Kings 11:3). Solomon wrote:

The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the LORD.
Proverbs 18:22 NLT

I guess treasure hunting was a favorite pastime of old Solomon’s. The NASB and KJV versions translate the word treasure as good thing, and I sensed that my future wife would be a good thing for me. Looking back over the thirty-five years since Shawn and I met, I can affirm that I was correct in that evaluation.

Read on if you want to travel to the spring of 1980 and meet Shawn Rae Eddy through my eyes…

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I passed her every Thursday

There’s Kim’s sister, Shawn. I pass her this time every Thursday. I think I’ll be bold and say hello first today.

Shawn and I are going to meet for supper at the cafeteria. I hope the guys sit somewhere else and leave us alone.

Who cares about food? I can’t look away from those sparkling blue eyes. I’ve never seen anyone whose entire face joins her smile, and those dimples! The rest is great, too. Wow!

Shawn talks but not all the time. She’s OK with some quiet, too.

She listens, not just to be polite, but to understand. She makes me feel as though I have something worth saying, and I can talk with her about anything.

Listened to my faith

Shawn doesn’t sneer at my faith although she doesn’t share it. I explained why God matters, and she has embarked on her own search for His truth. We’ve been studying the Gospel of John, and she accepted my invitation to church.

The girl’s not a morning person, but as long as I knock on her door with a hot cup of coffee in my hand, she recovers quickly. Any time I can spend with her is better than being alone.

I watch as she interacts with her friends and mine. People are at ease with Shawn as though they’ve known each other for years. She’s not stuck on herself, and truly cares for others.

Being around Shawn gives a feeling of joy I have not experienced. Am I twitterpated, or is this true love?

Uh, I thought I’d been kissed before, but I was wrong. I should try it again, though, just to be sure.

I’m crazy in love with Shawn, but my heart is heavy. Any spare moments I can find are invested in prayer for her salvation.

April 18, 1980 – It happened tonight night in the front seat of my Ford Pinto. Shawn asked Jesus to be her Savior, and I’m having a hallelujah shouting fit. Great job, God, and thank you!

Has it been only two months? I don’t want to remember life before Shawn, and I can’t imagine it without her. She just told me, “I feel so comfortable with you. Like we are supposed to be together.”

My heart is pounding and I can’t breathe, but it’s time to take the next step. I have no idea how I’m supposed to do this, so I’ll just wing it and hope for the best.

“Will you marry me?”