Category Archives: God’s character

Young Love (#56)

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While Nate was excelling as an Army cadet in Kansas, I was immersing myself in the mechanics of planning a wedding. Mom and Dad were making preparations to move from a large home to one half its size, wondering what to do with a lifetime of accumulated “stuff.” It seemed like big changes were bearing down on all of us.

July 11, 1969 – Dear Nate, my Love. I spent this whole day in the stores, mostly looking at silver, china, and crystal, drawing sketches so I will remember names, and writing down descriptions and prices. I’m trying to narrow it down before mailing you my suggestions. It’s so much fun! But I desperately need you with me when we actually register at Fields and Carsons. We can do it in August. I’ve also been looking at sample wedding invitations. I think it would be nice to go formal with raised script on ivory colored paper. And I’m glad Dad is going to pay for them!

wedding-check-listJuly 11, 1969 – Dearest Meg. I love you for your loyalty, faith, happiness, beauty, and intelligence. You are the perfect life partner for me. A lot of the guys here ask when I’m getting married. When I say “29 November,” I feel the warmth of your kisses, even though we’re hundreds of miles apart. I’m enclosing a list of things we’ve talked about, so we can make decisions together after my graduation.

 

 

articleJuly 11, 1969 – Dear Nate. President Nixon is talking about bringing the troops home from Viet Nam and ending the war (article enclosed). That makes me so happy, because then there will be NO chance you’ll have to go over there. I’m lying in the sun today, trying to get a tan, and the pen is slipping out of my hand because of all the suntan cream I’ve used. But I am a happy girl, so lucky to be in love with you. Zapo!

July 12, 1969 – Dearest Meg. The pace is picking up here. In two days we’ll practice small unit tactics until midnight. I’m a squad leader. There are 4 squad leaders in a platoon and each has charge of 11 men. Friday we’re staying up all night and going back to the barracks on Saturday at 8:00 PM. I’m writing you in my pup tent. I love you, future wife.

July 12, 1969 – Dear Nate. My friend Connie has been educating me about the “rhythm” method of birth control. She says I must have a 6 month chart with all the pertinent details written down. There’s only a little more than 4 months before we’re married, so I’d better start my chart. I’m not very confident about all this, but “the pill” everybody is talking about may not be the right thing for us, either. It wouldn’t be good to get p.g. right away, though, because I just want to be with you first, just the two of us, for a nice long time. I should find out what’s proper for a marriage medical exam with a doctor. Maybe I could get some advice at an appointment.

July 12, 1969 – Dearest Meg. I’m looking forward to our time together at camp. But first I want to talk to both of your parents, with and without you present. I really love and respect your parents and want them to be able to ask me any questions they want. I know I can be as honest with Meg’s folks as I can be with her, though perhaps with different vocabulary.

wedding-veilJuly 12, 1969 – Dear Nate. I’m so excited about trying on wedding gowns! And I want a floor-length veil, too, although it will cost more money. Dad and I are going to have to sit down and talk about expenses. I want to know what I’m allowed to spend.

“Your adornment must not be merely external… let it be the hidden person of the heart… which is precious in the sight of God.” (1 Peter 3:3-4)

Young Love (#53)

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At last we were all agreed on November 29 as Nate’s and my wedding date – some more enthusiastically than others, but agreed. Planning shifted into high gear as Mom and I put our heads together over the details. But she wouldn’t go with me to look at china and silverware patterns. “That should be Nate,” she said. I know it bothered her that he was an absentee groom.

commanding-officerBoth Mom and Dad frequently mentioned his absence during these important days, and it frustrated me, too. But leave it to Nate. As always, he knew just what to do. He wrote a powerful letter (quoted below) dated July 9, arriving in my parents’ mail on July 11:

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Johnson,

Writing you at this time is both easy and difficult. It is easy because I have known you for two years and feel very much at home when I am with you, and because I am writing of Margaret, who we love. Yet it is difficult to discuss engagement in a letter. I want to talk personally with you before she and I go to camp.

Many times people ask an engaged couple how they know they are in love. My answer comes from a guide the Lord has given us in Scripture. In 1 Corinthians 13 He has set out through Paul the characteristics of love by which I examine myself. Love is patient, kind, hopeful and enduring; most of all it is forgiving. Love for Margaret is a spiritual gift with which the Lord has blessed me. Her virtues fill my eyes; I see past her few faults. And she has shown me so many times that my love is reciprocated. I know it is.

nates-letterI am fortunate to have a fiancée with her virtues. Her faith with witness, prayer, Bible study and obedience to God are reassuring. Margaret’s humor, energy, beauty, education, intelligence, charm, creativity and love of children make me realize what a wonderful Christian woman she is. Her letters and visits during this Army camp prove to me her spiritual quality and goodness. Each minute of the day, but especially when we pray together, I want to share my life with her. Having accepted Christ in our hearts as ultimate, Margaret and I will have a marriage unified in Him. If Margaret’s parents were less understanding, I would worry about my absence at this time. However, she has written of your complete acceptance of my Army situation and our decision. I am thrilled and happy that the Lord has given us understanding parents.

With love and warmest regard,

Nate

Mom’s heart was won in the first paragraph when Nate wrote “of Margaret, who we love.” Something about that shared love bonded her to Nate in a way that “stuck” through all the years that followed. And Dad’s respect for this young man took a significant leap on that day.

“All that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans.” (Romans 8:28, TLB)

Young Love (#42)

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Just as Nate and I were moving happily toward engagement, my old boyfriend called again.

Memories of him had been fading, because my thought-life was filled with Nate and our bright future together. The boyfriend’s phone call threw me for a loop, but after we hung up, I gave it some rational thought and saw a pattern. Though we didn’t have a lot of contact, he did call every few weeks, which always pulled me back into the relationship.

He didn’t want to come between Nate and I but did want a friendship to continue. The problem, however, was at my end. Such a friendship would come at a high price for Nate and thus for me, too, and my greatest longing was for a marriage that would thrive in every way.

line-in-the-sandSo, for once I used common sense. Surely God was answering Nate’s daily prayer request for guidance. And I knew it was time to draw a line in the sand.

Rather than get together socially as he called to do, I drove to his house to tell him face-to-face that Nate and I were about to get engaged. There would be no room for another guy-girl relationship in my life, and so he and I needed to terminate all contact. He didn’t think it had to be that way but said he would honor my request.

It was a difficult task, but it got done.

June 24, 1969 – Dearest Meg. It was a taste of dolce vita the last time we were together. A walk late on a June evening with you is everything. Meg, I love you. Kisses enclosed. P.S. Quit giggling, my little brown bear.

encouraging-lettersJune 24, 1969 – Dear Nate. Your letters are so wonderful and encouraging to my missing you. You are such a stable, well-organized person (even in your thought-life), and oh how I need help in those things! You and I will help each other in many ways. But more than anything, I need you as my partner. I love you dearly, and I’m confident that as the months pass when we are together, we will love more, love deeper, and love in a way that cannot be replaced by anything else, ever. I will always need you and always want you in every way. I love you!

June 25, 1969 – Dearest Meg. Your engagement ring should arrive at your apartment in a few days. Don’t open it! It’s hard being away from you, but I do want to sacrifice to defend the United States of America so that Meg can be safe and so we can live together in liberty. I love you with every fiber of my being. The ultimate in my life is marrying you.

June 25, 1969 – Dear DEAR Nate. I miss our talking times and especially our prayer times… more than I ever dreamed I would.

fireworksJune 26, 1969 – Dearest Meg. Tomorrow I have KP – up at 3:45 AM and work to 10:00 PM. But that means 4,5,6 July will be completely free. I’ll drive into Topeka on the morning of the 4th and leave the evening of the 6th. Thanks for all the wedding planning lists. You’re a big help now and will help me in the future as a lawyer and lieutenant!

June 26, 1969 – Dear Nate. Guess what! I got my Corvette back!!! It’s an absolutely WILD tale of how the Chicago police found it and how they caught the 2 idiots who stole it. I’ll tell you all about it!

“Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Oh that my actions would consistently reflect [his] decrees!” (Psalm 119:1,5)