Seventeen years ago, Friday, March 13, 1998 my life changed forever. It was on this date 17 short years ago when I ask a sweet and beautiful young lady if she would marry me. I can remember that night vividly.
We went for a drive to Raccoon mountain, which looks over the city of Chattanooga. The moon was full and bright and my knees were knocking, my heart was pounding, and my hands were sweating when I got on one knee and asked her to marry me. But before I would give her the ring and before I would let her respond, I told her I would like to take her to a few more places. I knew God had a call on my life and if she said, “Yes” it would mean He had called her also.
I then drove her down the mountain into the city and parked across from the county jail. I asked her, “Will you marry me even if my pastoral convictions and beliefs put me in jail?” Again, I would not let her answer. I then drove to a small church building and brought her inside to the pulpit and I asked her, “Will you marry me if I am a pastor of a small church?” Please don’t answer yet. I then led her to a medium sized church building and led her again to the pulpit and asked her, “Will you marry me if I am a pastor of a medium sized church? Please don’t answer we have one more place to go.” I then guided her to a very large church building and asked her a final time near the pulpit, “Will you marry me if I am a pastor of a large church?” She said in her sweet voice, “Yes.”
Now, she had not yet been able to see the ring since it had been relatively dark everywhere I had asked her. She was very anxious to put the ring on and after she did we prayed together and left the church. While we walked back to my truck she was holding out her hand to see it in paltry light coming from the street lights. When she got in my 1988 Toyota truck she turned on the dome light so she could finally see her ring.
Today, on our all day date (partly to celebrate and mostly to give Katie a break), we actually stopped by Kennedy jewelers where I bought her ring. As I pondered our engagement today, I know that I made a relatively small investment 17 years ago and have reaped immeasurable dividends.
One ring = 1 incredible wife, 5 terrific children, 1 small church, and 17 years of unforgettable memories.
Joy unspeakable, faith unsinkable, love unstoppable, anything is possible.
Katie, thank you for saying “YES” Kids, each of you are Daddy’s little treasures.
Love,
David (Daddy)