Knowingly or unknowingly, I had made the decision to step away from the possibility of love. After 17ish years of consciously dating men and praying heaven up and down that they would be the one, none of them were and all that greeted me was disappointment. I had been through so much during that time and I no longer wanted to open myself up to hurt and pain. Yes, I had grown by leaps and bounds over the years, but that did not prevent those thoughts from rising within me. Nasty thoughts that I was unworthy of love and undeserving of companionship often invaded my mind and consumed my entire being when I wasn’t being careful. Naturally, I figured that if I stayed single and just focused on everything else that was happening in my life, contentment would find me and I could at least have peace. But on many levels, I wasn’t expecting much.

Interestingly enough, you always find things when you aren’t looking for them. I sat at happy hour with my colleagues (even though I don’t drink, I attend for the camaraderie) and listened as one told me about a single man that she knew. She said that he was around my age, divorced, and a father. I’ll be honest, I don’t remember everything else that she said but I was intrigued because I viewed matchmaking as the highest compliment ever. Really, let’s be honest, for someone to go out on a limb to recommend you for someone else, knowing that disaster could cause a dis-ease in your friendship with them, is huge! I was honored in that moment and I decided to give the set up a try. When the day finally arrived, I walked into my colleague’s house and mentally prepared myself for meeting a really nice man. Yet when he walked into the house and I laid eyes on him, something else happened that I wasn’t quite ready for…

“Now breathe” those were the words that I softly spoke to my heart as I watched him walk into the room. From the Marvel comics shirt to the laid-back and inviting demeanor that he presented, I just wanted to get to know him more. I’m sure that I disguised my salivating quite well and that no one could tell just how attractive I found this man to be. He was smooth, but not in an obvious way, and he commanded the room with just his presence. He had a laugh that was contagious and elicited a similar response from those around him. He came to the party with a game in his hand and the game led to even more laughter and bonding. As I watched him engage with others, I found myself deeply desiring one-on-one conversation with him. It was a faint glimmer of a light, but I knew at that moment that a bright future was ahead of us. Our conversation and the game itself from that night are a blur, but what I will always remember are the celebratory cheers of my heart and it basked in the time spent with this man.

God’s timing is perfect. Period. Point blank. My Love and I have discussed this many times, but had we met even one month earlier, we most likely wouldn’t be where we are now. No, it’s not our anniversary yet and it’s not our birthday, but today is simply a day that I want to honor the man that God placed in my life. You see, right before he and I met, I had made a promise to myself that IF God saw fit to bring someone into my life, that I would honor His gift and be the best partner that He had strengthened me to be. I also realized that if I had tried to date in my own time (as I had before), I might not have found success. Trusting God and his timing is the only way that my heart can be prepared to love someone else and the only way that I can receive love. My Love and I are going strong and I thank God daily for His love and the love of my Love. God’s timing is perfect and the only way to find peace and walk in His joy.

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Beloved, I pray love for you. I do not know if you are dating or even opening your heart to love, but I pray that God would send love your way. Love is a beautiful thing and it drives out fear, doubt, and so many other negative emotions. For it was God’s love that saved us and He in fact is love. Love heals in a way that nothing else can and it restores brokenness that exists in every walk of our lives. I pray God’s love for you and I pray that God would bless you with the love that your heart needs.

I love you.

Be blessed.