Category Archives: Hearing from God

Young Love (#47)

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As Nate and I struggled with being apart (and with Mom’s uncertainties about our wedding), God was answering prayer – starting with a solution to our homeless-in-August dilemma. But #1 in our minds was the upcoming July 4th weekend… finally about to arrive!

camp-and-campersJune 30, 1969 – Dear Nate. God has answered our prayers for a housing situation in August. Moody Church needs counselors at their summer camp, Moody Youth Camp, and they say they’d love to have us both come for the month of August! You would have a cabin of boys, and I’d have a cabin of girls. We could be together every day and wouldn’t be putting my folks out at all in their “new” house. It’s going to work out great!

June 30, 1969 – Dearest Meg. I’m thankful for your sister Mary and how she is encouraging you about your mother. She’s a wonderful sister and a strong Christian influence. We should both listen to her advice.

my-groomJune 30, 1969 – Dear Nate. All evening tonight I sat and smiled at your picture. You are sooo handsome! I’m looking at you right now. I love your square jaw, which is a sign of determination (just like the Duke of Windsor) and those beautiful straight, white teeth. I love your green eyes and your gorgeous blond, shiny hair, and also your straight nose. But it isn’t just your physical features I love but the YOU underneath them. I’m going to sleep now, to dream of you. Kisses and kisses and more kisses for you…

June 30, 1969 – Dearest Meg. Several of my friends here with whom I share food, congratulate you on the best Rice Krispy cookies they (and I) have ever eaten. And thank you in advance for your trip to Kansas coming soon. I’m so excited about giving you the ring and about you having it that I can hardly sleep! I love you, Woman of Beauty. How lucky I am! And I love our sharing of time in prayer and our talks about faith issues. Tremendous. Thank you, my Meg. 

July 1, 1969 – Dear Nate. My Corvette is in tip-top condition now, after Bervin spent 6 hours repairing everything the crooks damaged when they stole it. Dad thinks I should get rid of it soon, now that it’s in good shape, and look for something more practical. I don’t know… On another topic, tonight I drafted letters to my principal and the head teacher about my not returning to teach in September. I think this will smooth things over nicely.

July 1, 1969 – Dearest Meg. I’m praying for us, for you, for peace of mind and heart, especially with you and your mother. I have begun to write to my potential groomsmen and ask them to stand up. Thank you for doing so much work on the wedding at your end. Once I get there, I’ll join you in all of it. We can talk a great deal about everything over the upcoming weekend. We’ll have to decide what we want engraved in our wedding bands, too.

July 1, 1969 – Dear Nate. In the middle of August, Moody Youth Camp will be having “Family Week.” Counselors won’t be as needed then. What do you say about our leaving camp for that week and spending it with my parents at their summer cottage in Michigan? Things with us are moving too fast for them, and this might help slow everything down. And P.S. In just 2 days I’ll be getting on the Santa Fe to head to Kansas and my fiancé! When you get to the Holiday Inn in Topeka on July 4, if you can’t find me, I’ll be at the pool. Don’t forget to bring your swimming suit!

“I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord… plans for a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

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)

Young Love (#21)

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relaxedAlthough my old boyfriend was still popping up here and there, Nate chose to believe that “his Meg” had drawn a line in the sand and wouldn’t cross it. My words said so, and he embraced it with all his heart. Though I wasn’t ready to say yes to an engagement and the marriage that would follow, he was convinced it would happen… eventually.

As for my church friend and our continued dates, my journal told the tale:

Although he and I always have great times when we’re together, it probably isn’t fair to keep the relationship going. He’s drawn to me, but feeling a little uneasy about it. I’m drawn to him but feel a little guilty about it. Nate knows about him, but he doesn’t know about Nate. None of that seems right.

I decided to let the relationship slowly dwindle by being unavailable, though I knew that might be painful for both of us. But as I began that process, God took care of the rest. My friend decided on his own that we ought to take a break. On our last date as we talked about this, I felt a twinge of sadness – but I knew it was the right thing to do. It also meant turning full-face toward Nate, no holds barred.

Mar. 19, 1969 – Dear Nate. Your wonderful letters to me have all meant so much. You are faithful in writing, and I love each one. For example, last night I came in very late for a weeknight (2:00 AM) with my arms loaded with junk, very tired, dirty, and longing for sleep. And the first thing that greeted me was 2 ivory-colored letters from Champaign. I threw all my bundles down and ripped open the letters, reading them both twice and wishing I could call you. You made me feel so loved at that moment. What woman wouldn’t like that? I always feel good after reading what you write to me.

Mar. 19, 1969 – Dear Meg. My prayer list, which has many items, includes a prayer thanking the Lord that I fell in love with a Christian woman. You have a very healthy outlook on life, and I find myself really needing you. I love you.

cool-carMar. 19, 1969 – Dear Nate. I’m very much looking forward to meeting your folks this Saturday. But oh boy, am I nervous. I’m even breaking out in pimples. But hopefully it’ll be a lot of fun, too. And some negative news: I put a big dent in the bumper of my fabulous Corvette while doing a swift parallel parking job this morning. Drat.

Mar. 21, 1969 – Dear Nate. Your phone call at midnight last night was the highlight of my day! I was so exhausted that I had come in at about 8:00 PM and plunked down on my bed for a quick nap. The list of what I needed to do in the evening was long, but I actually woke up with your call! After we said goodbye, I went right back to sleep and slept through. Ahhh. This morning I feel fantastic… with enough energy for lots of extra kisses, if you were a little closer than Champaign! See you at 10:00 AM Saturday with an expectant, enthusiastic smile. I’m looking forward to meeting your folks, but not half as much as I’m looking forward to seeing you.   Love to you, Meg

Mar. 21, 1969 – Dear Meg. I cannot wait until the morning. There is a special feeling within me when I know I will see you in a few hours: a kind of happy anxiety. I love you very much. If you accept me by fall, an engagement then until the following summer will allow us to be absolutely certain.

Mar. 21, 1969 – Dear Nate. I’ll probably see you before you get this, but it’ll be nice to get a letter after I’m gone. I always love to come home to a letter from you. It makes it easier to accept the departure when I know your greeting is waiting. My parents are looking forward to spending time with you 2 weeks from now. We’ll have lots of fun when you come. You can take my newly-tuned Corvette for a fast spin. I won’t be taking too many fast spins for a while, at least not till I get back down to 1 traffic ticket again.

“Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:14)