My Love Story part 5

My friend Becky and I left the radio station first. We went to her house and waited for her husband and Barry to arrive. I was very nervous and praying all would go well! When the men arrived we all seated ourselves in their living room. It was mostly small talk and then Becky and Dwayne excused themselves so that Barry and I could have some time to talk. Then the interviewing began!!!! We were both asking each other questions concerning our salvation and our standards..as well as that very important question...'Have you saved yourself for your spouse?' It is quite funny that I had completely forgotten about those 2 times during my senoir year that God told me to pray for my husband's purity. We both agreed that we did not want to date. This was for keeps! We both agreed that the Lord had brought us together (I was NOT about to tell him that God told me he was the one for me...that was just too presumptuous!!) and that after questioning each other in detail we were certain that we were being led of the Lord to pursue a relationship.
  We started talking to each other after church services...and he would call me in the evenings (he would drive 30 minutes from base...Camp leJeune...and talk to me from a pay phone) and we had him over for Sunday dinner once or twice(before my dad was home for good). My Momma and I were keeping my Daddy up to date with all of the details. My brothers (especially Jon) were SO funny!! Our family always holds hands when we say the blessing over our meals...Jon always made sure that either him or one of my other siblings were sitting in between Barry and I so we wouldn't hold hands!!! I was very thankful for their protection of me!!!
  My Dad surprised us one weekend by coming home unannounced. I was looking forward to introducing Barry to him...but not for the reason you might be thinking! Barry seemed almost too good to be true!! He seemed very honest and sincere, a true gentleman (always getting the door for me or any other lady), polite, etc. While in high school we had a rule at our house when someone wanted to take me or my step-sister out on a date...they had to call my dad and not only ask his permission but go through grilling! When my Dad first put this into effect we were horrified...then we started enjoying it...at least I did!!! And I was ready for my Dad to put Barry through this! I wanted to see what he was made of!!! So after church, Barry came up to me and my Dad and I introduced them...then the unexpected happened...before I could do or say anything my dad said, 'You have my blessingl.' I was absolutely shocked...then wondering what on earth Barry thought I must have told my Dad! My parents had always reassured us that my Dad was a good judge of character...and he was always right...but this was just NOT how I wanted things to go!!! I wanted my Dad to make him sweat!!!!
   Well, the rest is history!!!
  But what about the 2 different times that God told me to pray for his purity...well fast forward a few years. We courted for a year, were engaged for a year (waiting to marry when his service was up in the Marines) We moved to Pennsylvania and joined the church where he grew up. We helped out on the bus route, in Jr.Church, I was a monitor in the school he went to. Then the Lord blessed us with Rex!!! When I was about a month or 2 along we went to visit Barry's biological mom at a camp ground near Gettysburg. PA. I started asking him about his service in Okinawa,Japan. Then we started to do the math...when he was over there I was beginning my senior year! Then the Lord brought those 2 times to mind. I started asking him if he ever had any temptations while he was over there (he wasn't saved at the time) He then began to tell me that the guys would always tease him about his purity and when out on the town they would try to pressure him but he always stood his ground. He said that on 2 different occassions he told himself before they went out that he didn't care anymore...if the situation presented itself, then so be it! And it never did!  They would always see women of ill repute...except for those 2 times that he threw caution to the wind...the 2 times that God told me...a young lady thousands of miles away...to pray for her husband's purity! And I did..not knowing who he was or were he was. I fervently prayed that God would put a hedge of protection about him and keep him pure for me...and he did!!!!!!!!!! And God will hear and answer your prayers, too!!!!!!!!