Mustard Hearts Are A Dream Come True

As I walked down the aisle, my hand delicately encased in my now "husband's" grip, the finale from Disney's Cinderella boomed from the church loudspeakers. First, the crashing bells that I had always dreamed would be the transition from my single life into my very own version of happily ever after, were quickly pulled together and drowned out by the ethereal voices singing "a dream is a wish your heart makes..." I realized that my fairytale had begun years ago. I never had an evil stepmother or sisters, and little mice friends are hardly my idea of comfort and love. However, I knew that there was someone out there just for me, and that day, my wedding day, I captured him in the eyes of God, family, friends and legal authorities as mine forever!


Let's rewind a few years here... I somehow managed to get through the stereotypical dating years of high school sweethearts, unscathed. I decided at an early age that dating lead to marriage, and why date someone when I was fifteen if I couldn't get married until I was at least eighteen? All the broken hearts around me found me very unsympathetic and unable to understand their shattered pieces. I knew God had a plan for my life, and I wasn't about to go messing with that.


After graduating high school, and moving on through my college years, my heart longed for that certain someone to waltz into my life, understand my thoughts, have patience with me, sweep me off my feet (and gently set me down again), and carry me off into the sunset (preferably by walking side by side rather than on horseback). I wrote a lengthy list of what I expected God to provide for me in a spouse. Simple things like "Spiritual leader, taller, older, plays guitar..." Well, being the klutz that I am, I stumbled into some unfortunate relationships that understandably left me a little more bruised and jaded than when they'd begun. I had let go of my expectations because somewhere along the line I started believing that God could not have possibly created the "dream man" for me! So, in a fit of self-pity and utter frustration, I wrote out a new list. A list that I truly believed that the God I loved and trusted could not possibly fulfill even though this verse had been tattooed on my heart: "Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4


As I climbed that long steep hill through the years of finding my way back into delighting myself in the Lord, I remembered that all things I do should be pleasing to Him. I wanted to impress Him again, and make Him proud of me! I know that I am not perfect, nor will I ever be, but I knew that I could strive for perfection, and relearn how to please and glorify Him. He fulfilled His promise and gave me the desires of my heart! He gifted to me the most incredible man I've ever known. He blessed me with a loving, romantic, tall, guitar playing, singing, spiritual leader who is three months older than I am. He also fulfilled the things I perceived would be unattainable! My husband loves me beyond my own understanding, and I thank God for him daily!‎

"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8 has been stuck in my head as I get ready to graduate from nursing school with my husband helping me along.  He has cleaned the house, made almost every meal, and provided a shoulder to cry on through the whole grueling process.  I observed him making my lunch a few months ago and noticed that he drew a heart with the mustard bottle before he slapped my sandwich together!  I asked about it, and he coyly replied "I always do that, can't you taste the extra love?"  Wow, when God provides a dream come true, sometimes it shows up in mustard hearts!