Happily Ever After

My brother Matthew and his lovely wife Andrea got married on March 28, 2009. They have an amazing love story and it is a beautiful illustration of how when God closes one door, he opens up another. They have both been hurt and disappointed in past relationships and both thought that they would never find love. I am only going to share Matthew's story to save time.

Rewind with me if you would to the year 2003. Matthew and Michelle (aka "That Girl") have been dating for more then a year. They were together most of their senior year at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Matthew was on his way to earning his BA in Religious Studies and about to a pastor in the Nazarene Church. Michelle was on her way to earning a BA in Early Childhood Ed and being a 1st grade teacher. "That girl" was a "Pastor's Kid" and knew what she was in for if she was a Pastor's wife. They both loved God and did devotionals together regularly and both loved nature often taking hikes. It seemed it was meant to be.

I was 13 during most of their relationship. I was still a little girl in every sense and loved Michelle. I longed for young women to love me, support me, and understand me. I didn't have too many friends in school or youth group and not having a sister, Michelle was my answer to prayer. I was just finding out what my future would be like and I had a REALLY time accepting everything my mom was telling me. Michelle was always there for me. accepted me and treated me with respect.

On May 16, 2003- the day after my 14th birthday, Matthew proposed to Michelle. Everything seemed fine and they started making wedding plans. The 1st major red flag after the engagement that showed us Michelle was not who she said she was, was on that Saturday. Matthew wanted to take me out to lunch at Bob Evans for my birthday and asked Michelle come with us. Michelle was really upset and didn't want to go with us. She went with us but her attitude beforehand put a damper on it. We went to the Smoky Mountains during the previous Spring Break and there were also major red flags then though we told blind to see them. She did not treat me well at all even though I was on my best behavior and was inconsiderate toward mom.

Matthew and Michelle graduated from Mount Vernon Nazarene University 2 weeks later. Things seemed to be going well and we could not see that storm that was about to brew. I remember everything like it was yesterday. The phone rang late Tuesday morning. Dad picked up the phone and it was Michelle wanting to talk to Matthew. I was in family room in the recliner reading my Bible, not knowing that on the phone Michelle told Matthew she took off her ring and wanted to break up. I knew something was wrong a few days later when I came home and everyone was crying like someone died. I had a piano recital that night and Matthew told me everything was fine and mom was just sad since her friend died. I believed him. When we got home from the recital I knew it was much more then that. My dad took me downstairs in the basement and told me that Michelle broke up with Matthew leaving the part out about how she blamed mom and I. At first I thought they were eventually going to get together until my mom told me that it was not the case. The relationship ended- no wedding, no new lady in our family-or so we thought

Fast forward now to October 2006. Matthew was a youth pastor at Shelby Church of the Nazarene in Shelby, Ohio. It is a really small town. His Pastor had to officiate a funeral for a family who did not have a pastor. After the funeral, he meant this girl who he found to be close to Matthew's age with no ring- who worked at the funeral home. I remember Pastor Lester calling Matthew at our house and telling him about Andrea. Matthew came to us once he got off the phone and told us that Lester had meant an funeral director/embalmer after a funeral he officiated and he wanted Matthew to meet her. Matthew and Andrea started taking it slowly mainly corresponding through phone calls and emails. Sparks flew a few months into the relationship, and Andrea meant us. I was the last one in our family to meet her. We connected with her and made her a part of the family.

In February 2008, a few weeks before Matthew would move to Jerseyville, Illinois to be the Senior Pastor in the Nazarene Church there, he proposed to his Andrea! They went on a date an went back the funeral home and played games (she lived upstairs). Before they knew it is was 2:00 in the morning and Matthew had to head back to his apt. Before he left he bent down on knee at near the back door of the funeral home- that's right, Matthew proposed to Andrea at a Funeral Home

This is just one example how when God closes one door, he opens another. It make take a few years, or maybe even a lifetime for some. What about you? What stories do you have of God closing one door and opening up another? Don't give up or discouraged. See God something doing new in the horizon. See him clothing you in his love, mercy and grace. If you are like me, you have times when you get discouraged and don't know what what is next. You and I need to take heart! God love us. Join me on this journey!