Our plan was to not have a plan. We both simply wanted to sit, relax, chat and look at the waves for four glorious days. So, a week or so ago, Pat and I went away for a much needed rest at the beach. We rented a beautiful condo right on the ocean. What a view!
It was a great trip – we walked along the sand, watched the waves for hours, had long conversations, and took a little trip down memory lane. The condo was in Bethany Beach – but memory lane was a little ways up the coastal highway in a sweet seaside town called Rehoboth.
When I was a little girl, my grandparents lived on a farm on Maryland’s Eastern Shore not too far from there – a visit to their place in the summer always meant a day trip to the beach. My parents would rent a cottage for two weeks every summer while I was growing up and Pat & I continued the summer tradition when our boys came along. I have so many wonderful memories of Rehoboth Beach – they span from the earliest memories of my childhood up until when my boys were teenagers.
So…it was fun to walk all over the little town and the boardwalk – remembering this and remembering that. We spent the day conjuring up old family vacation stories and recalling the early years of marriage and family. As we walked along Baltimore Avenue, I stopped Pat in front of a cute little restaurant and asked him “Do you know what happened here?”
He told me he didn’t know.
One summer, after Pat and I had been dating for a few months, I invited him to join me on my annual family vacation at the beach. We were both looking forward to spending time with each other and also with my parents & grandmother.
I could feel myself falling in love with him. It kind of scared me. Before Pat and I started going out, my history with boyfriends was pretty dismal — most were very unkind and untrustworthy — it was strange to date someone who was so completely different. It’s sad to admit that ‘kind’ and ‘caring’ seemed strange to me but, to be honest, it did.
We arrived at the beach cottage and settled in with the family. All was well for the first day or so – and then something really weird happened. It came right out of the blue and was completely unprovoked.
I wanted him to go home.
I really wanted him to go home.
Yep – the poor boy had practically just unpacked his bags and now I wanted him to leave.
I don’t know what had come over me, but I was in a complete panic. I’ll spare you the details – but it was like some strange mood took me over and I did not want him there anymore. I wasn’t even remotely nice about it.
I told him our relationship was all wrong. We were not a good match. He needed a quiet, more reserved girlfriend and I needed…well, I didn’t know what I needed – but I was sure I didn’t need him!
The next day a very dejected and confused Pat left the beach and went home. My family stood there with their jaws on the floor. They were mortified and could not believe my behavior. It was completely unlike me to do such a thing and I had no good explanation.
I went to my room and flopped on my bed. My grandmother knocked on the door and invited me to lunch. We ended up going to this cute little restaurant on Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth – just the two of us.
It was in that little place, over lunch, that I had one of the most important conversations of my life.
Before our food even arrived, my grandma lovingly but oh-so-directly called me out on my behavior toward Pat. She explained to me what she thought was going on and urged me to not fear falling in love with him. She felt I sent him away because of ‘cold feet’ and, in hindsight, she was right.
Over our salads, I was reminded — in detail — of the previous boys I had brought home and how unkind they were to me. She told me that in Pat she saw a kind, faithful, trustworthy, Christian young man who could love me the way I needed to be loved. She strongly encouraged me to pray, think and consider what and who I may be sending away.
And then, over dessert and coffee, my sweet widowed grandmother winked her eye and said to me,
“Laura Anne, if you don’t marry him, I will!”
Oh, we laughed over that one for years!
Her honest words – direct and true – snapped me out of my fears and pushed me toward my destiny.
Just a little over a year after that lunch and conversation, Pat and I were married – and, just as grandma predicted, he has been kind, faithful, trustworthy and has loved me the way I needed to be loved for 32 years.
My wise grandmother knew the truth about Pat before I did. I am sure that every time I introduced her to one of the previous, unsuitable boyfriends she got on her knees and prayed for my future husband – and when he showed up, she knew it!
It just took me a little while to know it, too.
Did you know that Scripture recounts many instances of wise, truth-telling women?
2 Samuel 20:16-22 tells a brief story about someone known only as “one wise woman.” Her city faced a life or death situation. It was a matter of survival. One commentator writes;
“This one wise woman gathered information, held off an army with diplomacy, called a meeting and persuaded her fellow citizens of the best action to take to save the city. The townspeople had the discernment to recognize wise counsel when they heard it.”
They followed her advice. One wise woman used her wisdom to save the destiny of many and it was so significant that the Lord made sure it was written in His book!
So… here are the questions:
Is there a wise woman who has shown you the way, pointed you toward God’s will, and even given you a push when you needed it?
And…who are you praying for? Your child? Your grandchild? Your daughter-in-law? A friend?
Will you be ‘one wise woman’ and speak loving truth to her?
Never, ever, underestimate the power and influence of one wise woman AND of a praying, truth-telling grandmother.
Many Blessings,
32 thoughts on “One Wise Woman”
I love a good love story and yours is very good :-)How blessed you are to have had a very wise, loving, Christian, good-advice-giving grandmother in your life. We should all strive to be that wise woman!xxoo
Aw…I’ve never heard it called a “good love story” before! Thanks Ellen. xo
thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experiences. And thank you for being a wise woman!
You are so faithful to comment often, Cyndi. Thank you so much. I appreciate your support and kind words. xo
This story truly touched my heart and brought tears to my eyes. I could almost picture you and your grandmother at lunch and her loving you so much to help guide you on your journey. Such a blessing!
Oh Kathleen –thank you for your words. It was such a blessing and I even knew it at the time. I was thinking today how blessed I was to have her for 12 more years. She LOVED my husband. We called him “grandma’s boyfriend!” 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to comment. xo
What precious memories. So glad we were neighbors at #RaRaLinkup today so I did not miss this lovely post. I have some great memories of beach vacations with family and will be joining my favorite aunt for a few weeks in January, where she spends the winter since retiring. Blessings.
Thank you Karlene — I know you will treasure the time with your favorite aunt. As you grow older these relationships take on much more importance. Many Blessings!
Laura, I thoroughly enjoyed the story of your grandmother and appreciate your challenge. Thanks so much!
Thank you, Debbie.
Your grandmother has the gift of discerning, so glad she listened to God to tell you! Thank you for sharing with us your great memories and lessons. And congrats on 32 years married.
Thanks Tammy! We will be married 32 years on November 5th. Seems like a blink. It was good for me to write this story down. I am feeling blessed all over again! She was an amazing woman and her influence continues. Thanks for taking the time to stop by and comment. I appreciate it.
Dear Laura — What a sweet, sweet post. It brought tears to my eyes!! Your gram was truly wise indeed and you also were wise for LISTENING to sage words. I was not as wise in my younger years and reaped much bad into my life. BUT GOD. And Him never giving up on me. And finally, in the fullness of the time that I needed to grow up in Him, He brought a wonderful man with whom I now share my life as his wife. And we are remembering to number our days and make wise use of the time and gift we have been given. AND, God allows me to mentor other women with all the wisdom He has imparted to me over the years. HE IS GOOD!! Anyway, blessings and you and your Pat for many more wonderful years ahead!! Hugs. #WomenWithIntention
Shelia — thank you for commenting here and for sharing on your FB page — it is truly appreciated. I took a peek at your website and you have quite an amazing story. BUT GOD. I look forward to keeping up with your ministry and reading about what the Lord is teaching you! He is a redeemer, repairer and restorer of broken hearts, broken thinking and broken dreams. His grace is evident in your life. God Bless you and thanks again.
What a lovely story! My family has spend a good amount of time making memories at the beach, too. May God continue to bless your marriage!
Thank you, Liz. There is nothing like a trip to the beach– I love it any time of year. Thanks for stopping by.
I was just reminiscing this morning about my grandmother, and how thankful I was to have a godly mother and grandmother who prayed over me. Thanks for sharing! #JoyHopeLive
Trena ( I love your full name 🙂 ) Thank you for your comment. You are indeed blessed to have strong Christian woman in your life! Thank you for stopping by.
Oh I love this story! Thank God for your wise Grandma and your forgiving husband. 🙂
Thank you, Susan — my husband enjoyed your comment! LOL! Me too. 🙂 Thank you.
What a sweet story! How wonderfully wise your grandmother was! I am so thankful for the wise women God has placed in my life! I pray I will be that wise woman for other young women.
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
Thank you,Lori. Yes– we need to pay it forward to the women coming along behind us. Titus 2 tell us we must! I am so glad you stopped by. xoxo
Wow! What a great way to take some time to get away, relax, and go down memory lane! Being quite sentimental myself, I love hearing stories of courtship and even when there was a brief kink in the relationship, God softened your heart to hear the wisdom of your dear, wise grandmother! Thanks for sharing and may your day be blessed!!
Thank you Ann. I am so glad you stopped by — thanks for your sweet words. xoxo
Sometimes you feel the worst has happen to you (Pat being rejected) but don’t give up hope. God can flip things around in the most unexpected ways.
God works all things for the good for those that love him. Romans 8:28
Yes, Jen– so true. Great point. God is working in the other people in our lives — so easy to forget when we are struggling, waiting and disappointed. Thanks for stopping by!
Laura, I love this! I did almost the same thing to my poor husband while we were dating. If it were not for an older lady in our church and my husband’s persistence, I would be a lonely person. I’m so thankful for wise older women who are not afraid to give advice when needed. Thank you for linking up with Thankful Thursdays.
Thank you, Lori! Glad to know I am not the only one! I am also glad that wise women have spoken into my life. With my grandmother and mom gone now, I need others to fill their shoes. Thankfully, He has provided them. Thank you for stopping by and sharing your story.
Pingback: A God Who Is Near {Thankful Thursdays Linkup #32}
Thank you for sharing with us at #JoyHopeLive!
Thanks for this beautiful love story and the powerful message, Laura. I have benefited from many wise women in my life and I am praying to be that wise woman to someone else as well.
I love my story. 🙂 So grateful for my “rescue”. 🙂