PREFACE
(If
you spend time in church or read scripture, you hear God’s glory mentioned all
the time. As believers, we are often reminded that God has all good things in
greater quantity and quality than we can ever imagine. He is the source of all
good things, and he actually shares his glory with us. On the night of February
22, I believe I was able to preview a glimpse of God’s Glory.)
WARNING:
The content below contains sappy and dramatic material. This is your official
disclaimer.
Friday
– February 22, 2013 – 5 PM
After
briefly resting our bones, we suited backed up to catch the metro to the
Invalides arrondissement (district) to see the much anticipated Eiffel Tower.
As we stepped off the train and walked up the many steps to return to street
level, an odd surge of nerves shot through me. I mean, I was excited to see the
Eiffel Tower and all, but I didn’t expect to react physically. As we continued
walking, I remember seeing an open space between two buildings up ahead, knowing
a gap that wide could only be vacant for the viewing of the Tower. Butterflies
began to flutter in my stomach as we approached the final turn, and as I made
my way around the last building, a grin slowly grew wider across my face. My
breath was taken away. I, little ole Marissa, was finally standing in front of
the famous landmark to take in the impressive structure. Wow, what a moment.
Seeming to be
rushed, J took a few quick pictures of me, and I of him before we raced to the
Champs de Mars (the expansive lawn that stretches from the Eiffel Tower to École Militaire). “We have 20 minutes
before the lighting of the Tower,” he said. “I want to make sure I can get the tripod set
up for our pictures in front of it before then.” Because he seemed insistent, I
obliged and hurried behind him toward the grass. Other couples and families had
already staked claim on their spots, so we blazed past them. “Here’s a good
spot,” I would yell pointing toward a gap with only but a few people standing
by. “No, let’s keep going,” he responded. “I think I see a spot up here.”
This continued
for a good ten minutes before we found a spot suitable for the both of us. As
he unloaded the camera bag to set up the tripod for pictures, I stood with my back
turned and eyes locked on the Eiffel Tower once again. After he was done
fidgeting with the camera lens and tripod, J joined me in my gawking. “We have
a few minutes left,” he said. “Let’s dance”.
As we two-stepped to a song playing from the Ipod in Juston’s pocket, I
silently said a prayer and thanked the Lord for the moment I was in, with the
man I was in it with. Paris. Paris, France. I kept repeating it over and over
again in my head. Was this real life? Was I really here dancing in front of the
Eiffel Tower with the man I’m in love with? Did he really surprise me with this
amazing anniversary trip?
My thoughts and
rhetorical questions were interrupted when I felt the trembling of Juston’s
hand as he started to spin me in the middle of our dance. It WAS about 20
degrees out that night, so in the moment I didn’t think much of it mid-spin.
But as I came back around and full circle to our starting positions, I saw him
slowly bend to one knee. “What are doing?” I inquired. He didn’t respond, only
smiled. Again I asked, “What are you doing?” This had to be some sort of sick
joke. He was assuming the position that every girl across the universe
recognizes and waits for. He couldn’t possible be doing that tonight, right
here, and right now, I thought. I pride myself on having a somewhat decent
sense of humor, so I could somehow see how he thought it would be
chuckle-worthy to act as if he was going to propose in Paris on our three-year
anniversary.
So, I stood waiting, face
bowed and pulse racing, for him to get to the part where he said that this WAS
or WAS NOT a prank. Still silent, I watched him reach for his coat pocket to
retrieve and open a small cushioned box, holding it one hand and my hand in the
other. My lip began to quiver realizing on my own this had been a genuine execution
of something from the start. When he opened the box and extended his hand in
order for me to view the beautiful piece of hardware, he also commenced his
proposal speech to me. For the second time that evening, my breath was taken
away. Like literally, I was not breathing. I stood blank-faced and motionless,
with tears running down my face while he proposed we spend the rest of our
lives together.
To
be honest, I couldn’t tell you verbatim what he said that night, or how long it
went on for. I do know it was beautiful, that he meant every word, and that I
already knew my answer to his question even before he started talking. But, it
was only courteous for me to let him in on my decision as well, being that he
was down there on bended knee and all. “Yes, of course,” I jubilantly replied
through the tears. Once my final word rolled of my tongue and J slipped the
beautiful ring on my finger, the Eiffel Tower lit up, as if on cue and in
celebration. (Unbeknownst to me, he was filming and taking still shots of all of this)
Wow.
Wow. WOW. It’s impossible to articulate what we, I especially, was feeling in that
moment. If I told you I could feel the presence of the Lord in that moment,
would you believe me? I hope so, because
I did.
You
see, Juston has all of the characteristics I have ever wanted and prayed for in
a husband, life partner, best friend, and he has them in superabundance.
Accordingly, I have his family and friends to thank for that. Collectively they
have had a hand in making him the man he is today. I have the most gratitude,
however, for our Creator. In Juston, he has blessed me with a plentiful gift.
God is the source of all good things, and on that night he showed me that he
not only answers prayers, he actually shares his glory with us.
I
told Juston that only way I can think of to adequately describe the proposal in
short is “brilliant and disgustingly wonderful”. Of course, I mean that in the
most loving way. It was brilliantly planned, impeccably timed, and flawlessly
executed. And to anyone outside of us, that sounds “disgustingly wonderful”. Am
I right? It sounds too good to be true
and annoyingly perfect. Trust me, I get it. We are in no way trying to be
boastful. But quite frankly, the story did play out as perfect as it sounds. To
that end, we give all credit to where credit is due. Thank you, Heavenly
Father, for this glimpse of your glory.
“Then
the LORD’s glory rose from above the winged creatures and moved toward the
temple’s threshold. The temple was filled with the cloud, and the courtyard was
filled with the brightness of the LORD’s glory.” - Ezekiel 10:4
On
a separate but yet related note – Days later with the oxygen fully returned to
my lungs and able to breathe normally, I look down at the ring on my finger and
am still in a state of shock. It still doesn’t seem real. I feel like I’m still
a little girl trying on her mother’s jewelry, knowing at some point I am going
to have to return the ring to the box. Ladies and Gents, but Ladies especially,
we really do grow up. You really can find true love. And as a much as you dream
about it, there really is no preparing for the moment of when that all comes to
fruition.
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