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All Great Love Stories...

My mom and dad first met through the words they shared as pen pals. Dad’s mom asked my mom if she would write her son who was in the military stationed in Honolulu. Sixteen-year-old Jearlene asked her mother if it would be okay. Her mother didn’t see any harm – it was only a six cent stamp, and besides, he was miles away.

Two years later, Gene entered the church office where Mom worked as secretary. He had tried all day to reach her by phone, but finally after learning where she was, he decided to come unannounced. She recognized him immediately from pictures they had exchanged.

The ease of the hundreds of words they had written in the many airmail letters transferred to an ease of conversation. Mom says it was like they had known each other for a lifetime.

Mom continued working. Dad made himself comfortable sitting on the edge of her desk. They talked and laughed. She rose from her chair to go to the filing cabinet. Dad stood, too, and softly put his arm around her waist. They kissed.

All love stories have great beginnings.

Memories of Kathy, a new girl, entering sophomore homeroom and walking across the room to find her desk is etched in my mind. Like in the movies, I see her in slow motion with books in arm and a smile on her face – the curls of her auburn hair softly bouncing with each step.

Kathy and I became high school sweethearts after becoming “best” friends. The next step was natural.

Nervous, I had rehearsed in my mind over and over again. Our dinner plans were made, and we were expected at the restaurant to meet friends. Kathy looked at me curiously. I insisted that we sit down for a moment. I stumbled through a few words and then slid down to one knee.

No ring, and with little more to offer but a heart full of dreams, I asked Kathy to marry me.

It was a great beginning.

All love stories have great beginnings, but all great love stories begin anew again and again.

The word “cancer” shocked me. I was 29 years old. I never saw it coming. Within 24 hours, I was prepped and lying on a gurney in a surgery center hallway waiting to have a malignant tumor removed.

Kathy waited outside with friends from church. Our three young children were with family. The surgery went well.

Convalescing at home and waiting on test results, I rested in bed dozing off and on. It was an uncertain time. Would there be more surgeries and invasive treatments? Our life had changed. Now we waited to hear just how much it had changed.

I woke up and Kathy had snuggled close to me. I felt her hand in my hand. Our breathing, in and out, was in unison, and the future seemed more sure.

It was a new beginning.

Doctors had done all they could for Dad. Heart disease had won a 17-year battle. His heart now functioned at less than 10 percent capacity. Days were spent in a hospital style bed that had been moved into the dining room.

When Mom wasn’t doing the many chores she faced each day caring for Dad, she spent time sitting by his bed. She stroked his forehead. She held his hand. They talked about family and the life they had shared.

Although things would never be what they were, they seemed to be at peace. They continued to love each other deeply.

It was another beginning for them, even in Dad’s final days.

God reminds us that He has no beginning and no end. His love is eternal. The great love stories are “great,” because there is no end. . . only beginnings.

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