Love Story....

One of our local businesses is having a Valentine's Day Love story essay contest.  I decided to enter, because quite frankly.... I love John and my love story :)  So, in celebration of February, here it is!

I was recently at a doctor’s appointment, accompanied by my husband, John.  Unimpressed by the doctor within five minutes of meeting him, my emotions were pushed to the limit when he turned to my husband and said,

“ So, even after knowing all this was wrong with her, you decided to marry her anyway?  Why the *&$% would you do that?” 

Little did this doctor know, that has been the question I have struggled with my whole life.   Will anyone ever want to marry me with my health issues?

You see, when I was three years old, I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis.  Basically, this is arthritis that older people get, but I got it when I was a child. 

My childhood was filled with pain, and doctor’s appointments, physical therapy sessions, and disgusting medicines.   There were days that I could barely walk, but I always knew there was a purpose in all this.  Over time, the disease took its toll and started wearing down my joints.  The biggest victim:  my hips. 

When I was sixteen years old, the age when I was supposed to be getting my driver’s license, I found myself lying on an operating table getting ready to have a double hip replacement.  A double hip replacement!  In my sixteen year old mind, this was something that was reserved for eighty year olds, not a girl in high school.  

Needless to say, I made it through the surgery and recovery, and got on with my life with much less pain.  Praise God!   I went on to graduate high school, college and get a job as a first grade teacher, and eventually get my Master’s degree. There was always that question in the back of my head though of whether or not I would ever meet someone that could love me unconditionally, and be o.k. with all the baggage I came with in terms of my arthritis.  I struggled a lot with feelings of being beautiful and having self worth, because the arthritis has deformed some of my joints.

 All the while, I was very involved in my church’s music ministry.  God has given me a gift of singing, and I love using it to bring him glory.  In  2008, my friend Robyn, who I sang on a worship team with, mentioned to me that she had a young man working for her that she would like to introduce me to.  She described him as sweet, kind, a hard worker, and just an all around great guy. She said she hadn’t mentioned it to him yet, and wanted to see how I felt about it.  I told her I was “kinda” seeing someone, and it turns out that John was also seeing someone at the time.  

Well, thank God for prayer warriors like Robyn.  She prayed for John and I for TWO YEARS!  During this time, other people (mostly my student’s moms) had set me up on blind dates and such.  I loved that there were people looking out for me and wanted me to meet a great guy! 

After two years, Robyn came up to me one day in church and grabbed me by the arm and said,

“Jennie, I just can’t ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit anymore, you and John have to meet!”

In my head I was thinking,  John?? Who is that? 

I think Robyn sensed my confusion, because then she went on to explain that John was the guy she had wanted to set me up with TWO YEARS AGO!   I told her I would pray about it, because there was actually this other guy that I had my eye on.  But he wasn’t really moving forward with anything.  So, after praying about going on a double date with John, Robyn and her husband, Nelson, I felt that this was a great opportunity.  On February 11, 2010 we went to this cute little Inn in Stockton, NJ.  Great food, great company.  I remember walking in to the restaurant to meet John and immediately upon seeing him, I had to look away because he has these most beautiful eyes, and I felt myself blushing. 

At this particular restaurant, there is an outdoor eating area.  However, we went in February and it was really cold, so there were little fires that people were standing around.  John and I went up to one of the fires to talk to one of the locals, and I remember very clearly him putting his hand on the small of my back, and I knew in that moment in a way I can’t even explain that he and I were going to be together for a really long time.

We dated long distance our entire relationship.  John was living in South Carolina and I was still in Allentown, PA.  This forced us to talk on the phone or skype a lot except for when we would visit each other.  I knew there was a time when I was going to have really go into detail about my physical condition with John.  I would always get so nervous because I was afraid he would run away after he knew everything and all the implications my disease can have on life down the road. At one time in my life, I had thought about writing my autobiography and had made a story board where I had listed a lot of my life events.  One night, I pulled that out and started telling John “my story”. I was shaking and had sweaty palms, and I’m sure my face was a red as a beet.  John just listened as I was talking really fast.  When I was done, he took the story board out of my hand, put it on the floor, looked at me and said,

“I appreciate you sharing this with me, but I want you to know that this in no way changes how I feel about you.  Your arthritis is just one little part of what makes you, you.  Your arthritis has definitely molded you into the person you are today, but it hasn’t defined you.  I love that, and I love everything about you.”

            My biggest fear had finally been assassinated by John’s beautiful words. I had found someone who could love me unconditionally. I knew we would be together for the rest of our lives.  On October 9, 2010, John proposed to me, which is a whole other story in itself, and on August 7, 2011 we were married.  I moved down to South Carolina and have made a home with John, my best friend. He truly is a kind, compassionate, smart, and courageous man.  I could tell you story after story about how John has shown his love for me, and we haven’t even been married a year.  I love this man with all my heart and thank God every day for blessing me with him.  God knew exactly what I needed and has blessed me beyond what I could every think or imagine by giving me John.