I got out of the car and went in to Jerry’s, but I didn’t see Jimmie Sue. Brian, the waiter, looked my way and held up his finger as if to say he would be right there. I went ahead and seated myself; and when he arrived at my table, he told me right away that Jimmie Sue wanted me to come to her apartment. She said her car was down, and she thought I could fix it. He handed me her address that he had written down when she called. She said to call her if you had any trouble finding it. I thanked him and jump up immediately and headed down Yale turning left on 71st. I entered the apartment complex and found her apartment fairly quickly. I had a buddy that used to live there so I was pretty familiar with the area. I drove up to her apartment, and she must have been watching for me because, when I pulled in the parking space next to her car, she came out running toward me. The next thing I knew she grabbed me around the neck and gave me a hug while thanking me for coming to help her. I said, “Is that all I get?” She said, “No”. With her dreamy green eyes, she lean in and kissed me on the lips, and I just stood there after she released me. I couldn’t move. She asked me, what was wrong? “Was it a bad kiss?” I laughed and said, “I don’t know, can you try that again?” She saw what I was doing, and this time leaned in with another softer and longer kiss.
Jimmie Sue: “Ok, how was that?”
I didn’t say anything I just grabbed her and kissed her back and told her I wasn’t going to let go. She laughed and said, “Hey! Save some for tomorrow night! And what will people think of me? Some guy that they never seen around my place before just driving up and planting these kisses on me?”
I chuckled and said, “I guess I better look at your car so you can get to work.” While having her lift the hood, I headed to my car and began to dig around in the trunk for some jumper cables and a few tools. I started jiggling the cables on her battery and found they were loose. I tightened the cables up, and I told her I had found her problem.
Jimmie Sue: “Oh, already, what was wrong?”
Chip: “Your battery cables were loose not able to make a connection for a spark to start the car. If they are too loose, just mere bumps in the highway can make them looser.”
Jimmie Sue: “I am sure you are right because the last couple days I didn’t think it was going to start.”
Chip: “Let’s give it a try! Jump in and try to turn it over. Sure enough, it started right up. Jimmie Sue bounced up and down in the car seat with glee.”
Jimmie Sue: “Oh, thanks Chip. My hero!!! I am so thankful that it was minor. I was concerned I was going to have to have it towed into the auto repair shop and that it was going to cost me a small fortune.”
Chip: “Wow, is that all it takes to be your hero? You haven’t seen anything yet!!”
I laughed, and Jimmie Sue blew me a kiss from inside the car.
Chip: “That is all I get for being your hero?”
She jumped out and planted another kiss on me. Then announced to me that she was going to call Jerry and tell him that it was too late to show up for work, and she asked me if I would take her to dinner? She waved at me to come in for a minute while she retrieved her phone and called Jerry. He must have asked her if she would be in on Saturday morning because she quickly assured him that she would be there. Hanging up the phone, she looked at me and said “Ok, let’s go eat. I am hungry.” and informed me she would like some pizza. “Ok, that sounds good”, I replied, “It’s been a while since I have had pizza, and it sounds good for a change. By the way you have a cute apartment.”
Jimmie Sue: “Thanks, I like it! It is small, but it works for me right now because I am hardly ever here. And I do not have to spend a lot of time cleaning.”
Chip: “Where would you like to go for Pizza? How about Pizza Hut? We can eat inside, and we can hopefully find a quiet corner.”
Jimmie Sue: “Ok, maybe I can talk you into sharing some of what the Lord told you about us.”
Chip: “That would be great, we didn’t expect this extra time, but I am grateful it worked out the way it did. First, let’s order the pizza and our drinks because I need to share with you about Cindy too.”
The waitress came to our table and took our order. Then, I said, “If it is okay, I will begin with Cindy; then we will talk about the other?”
Jimmie Sue: “Ok, Chip, it would probably be better to start their first; but, first, can I tell you something?”
Chip: “Sure, of course!”
Jimmie Sue: “I would like to start by telling you how absolutely handsome you look in that turquoise shirt with your black hair and olive skin. What nationality are you?”
Chip: “I am French Canadian. My grand-father was French Canadian, and my grand-mother was Canadian and American. Both my Father and Mother’s great- grandparent came from Canada to live in America around the 1800’s to escape the Potato Blight and persecution from the Roman Catholic Church, because many of the French Canadians became Protestants. My parents told me that they became friends on the ship and remained friends and neighbors in the new land called America. They first settled around the Hudson Bay and eventually moved further into the New England states. They settled in Canadian communities and continued that history from there. My mother and dad grew up together, married, and here I am with my black hair, brown eyes, handsome and loveable.
The waitress set the pizza down, and I gave it a little spin while saying, “I guess I am like this pizza, a combo.”
Jimmie Sue: “Funny man! I see how you are? Can I ask you what your real name is?”
Chip: “It is Charles Wilson, but I’ve always went by Chip.”
Jimmie Sue: “But your last name doesn’t sound like a French name.”
He began speaking in French, “La plupart des Canadiens français ont connu de nombreux changements de noms, et ce fut une longue histoire.” (In English he said, “Most French Canadians went through many name changes, and it was a long story.”
Chip: “And what do you mean I am funny man? You just said I was your handsome man.”
Jimmie Sue spoke French right back at me and said, “Je vois, vous devez être un “Chip off the old block”, vous êtes une taquinerie, et oui, pour moi vous êtes beau.” which when translated says, “I see, you must be a “Chip off the old block”, and you are a tease, and yes, to me you are handsome. She giggled and my eyes grew big as I said, “You speak French very well.”
Jimmie Sue: “Yes, I am full of surprises. I took one year of French in high school, and 2 years of it in college. I thought about working in foreign affairs but my dad wanted me to stay in the states. I think it was because I was the only family member he had.”
She spoke French again and said, “Ne laissez pas la beaute’aller a’ votre tete” (Don’t let your handsomeness go to your head.) Speaking English again, “You know what they say? After you get married you start aging; and after you have a couple of kids, you get fat, and you get bags under your eyes from losing sleep, and your wife is tied to the stove.”
Chip: “Who said that? I am going to stay your handsome man.”
I brushed my hair up that had fallen over right eye and said “You are the tease.” while giggling at the same time and continued, “Oh, how will we survive laughing all the time?”
Chip: “Ok, tell you what nationality you are, Jimmie Sue?”
Jimmie Sue: “My father was Irish and British. He still had a brogue when he spoke and obviously it is where I got my green eyes and red hair. My mother was English with blue eyes and light brown hair. She passed when I was very young. I think it was pneumonia. Anyway, here I am, signed, sealed, and delivered for you.” (While giggling)
Chip (In French): “I believe that truly God sent you to me.”
Jimmie Sue: “Yep, I believe that too! Well, enough of that fluff for now; the evening is getting away from us, and I want to hear everything.”
Chip: “Ok, let me begin! I left work today, ran home, got a shower, and headed to the hospital. I was so nervous, but anxious to get this over with. I pulled into the parking lot and prayed that God would allow his perfect timing in our conversation and that he would give me the right moment to tell her about you. Well, I got out of the car and my phone rang. It was Carl telling me Cindy would like for me to come see her. I told him I was in the hospital parking lot on my way into the hospital. He said they had moved her out of ICU and gave me the floor she was on and her room number. I was still praying for God to work things out smoothly, for his honor and glory, and to help me share Jesus with her. When I first went up and knocked on the door, Carl stepped out and said she was trying to get a little make-up on. Finally, I went in and was surprised how awake and alert she was, though when she moved around too much, she whined with pain from her broken leg and hip. Cindy greeted me and thanked me for coming, especially after she had avoided me before her accident. She said, “I owe you an apology”, saying how wrong she was for treating me with such disrespect by not taking my calls. She explained that she felt we were on completely different paths and knew there was someone sweet out there for me, and I deserved the best. After telling me that, I let her know that I had moved on and that I had met a wonderful girl that loves me and is crazy about me. She giggled and said she was happy for me, and I deserved someone great. I sat there amazed and thankful that I didn’t have to tell her first that I had moved on. The Lord completely released me by her sharing how she felt first. She told me that the Lord had visited her while she was sedated, and she described His wonderful presence, and she knew I was praying for her. It was the most wonderful and freeing visit. The Lord had answered our prayers. I led her to the Lord, and she remark how this warm feeling had come over her and asked if that was normal? I knew she meant to say, “Is that how God feels?” When I left there I was floating; and on top of it, getting to have dinner with you tonight is icing on the Cake.”
Jimmie Sue: “Oh, Chip, I am amazed at the wonderful grace of God and how He worked in this situation. How could you possibly desire or ask for anything more or as perfect? It’s her loss but my good fortune. I am thankful to God that she turned loose of you. God is so good!”
Chip: “Our eyes met, and I told her that I totally believe God saw my heart that I desired to have someone that felt the way I do toward Him. I believe you are that person for me without a doubt.”
She smiled at me with teary eyes and squeezed my wrist.
Jimmie Sue: “If God worked this situation out so beautifully between you and Cindy, I can’t wait to hear what He said to you about us. Now I am ready to hear some more of how our precious Father worked in bringing you into my life. I have much to share with you as well.”
Chip: “Really?”
Jimmie Sue: “Oh, yes! I started praying about you after we first met, and God showed me your heart, and I fell in love with you even before I really knew you.”
Chip: “Wow!”
Tears began to surface in my eyes. She looked at me and rubbed the tear off my cheek and rubbed it over her heart. I took one of the napkins and rubbed my eyes and told her I didn’t think I was going to make it through the evening after such sweet words and the sweet gesture made with my tears. She gave me a wink and said “It’s only going to get better and sweeter from here.” She lowered her head so she was even with my eyes and nodded as to say go ahead and share. I’m ready to take it all in.
Chip: “Ok, here I go, and I hope you do not think what I am about to tell you sounds strange. As I shared with you bits and pieces of Cindy and my relationship, it wasn’t good. I knew better than to date a non-believer, and Rob reminded me that it wasn’t the way God worked, and I needed to break it off. He told me we would talk after the game that night. We had it pretty tough all night, barely pulling out a win; and afterwards, our coach took the whole team out for pizza to celebrate. Rob and I found a corner, and he shared with me how he felt about our relationship. He reminded me that God was not going to honor our relationship and quoted the Scripture to me from II Corinthians 6:14: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness, and what communion hath light with darkness?” After quoting that to me, I felt quite foolish, because I knew what his word said about that. But the truth is when I first met Cindy, I saw she had high morals and some strict rules, like what I shared with you concerning her driving habits. I think I just overlooked the thing about her being unsuitable as far as unequally yoked together. Anyway, eventually I saw she wasn’t really interested in going to Church with me, even though she said when she was growing up her parents took her to a Methodist Church with them every Sunday. I kept pressing her to go, but Rob claims she was beginning to send me a message in the way she was treating me over those last couple of weeks. He felt that she was in her own way giving me an ultimatum, her or God. I guess I wasn’t getting the message, but when Rob said that, I think I turned loose of her right then and there. I realized what he was saying, and it dawned on me that if I had married her it could be a total disaster. I finally just backed off and licked my wounds so to speak. I realized after my talk with Rob that I certainly needed to step back and repent to the Lord for not honoring his word. I went home that night and asked Him to forgive me, and I pledged to Him that I would give Him the reigns. I couldn’t help from being somewhat down, not so much that I had to let Cindy go, but I think I was more disappointed in myself for letting the relationship go on so long without me seeing it wasn’t His will. I felt lost and hurt at the same time. While all this was transpiring in my life is when God spoke to me. I didn’t mean to take up time telling you all those details, but I felt you would get a better sense of where I was in my life at the time. Well, anyway, enough of that.
When I went to have dinner on that Monday evening after work, I was heading to the same place I always did, but I heard this voice so clear. I thought someone else was in the car with me. I was shocked and thrilled at the same time. I knew it was the Lord and as I listened, He told me not to go into Franks for dinner that day, but to go on down to Jerry’s. I had seen Jerry’s Diner when it first opened up and thought I might try it sometime but never got around to it. I obeyed the Lord, and as I proceeded toward Jerry’s I began to have this excitement in my spirit. Well, I just couldn’t imagine what this was all about except it had to be something good. When I opened the door and you greeted me with those beautiful green eyes and big smile, it was like this warmth came over me. It was like you gave me a big hug when you greeted me, but yet I knew it wasn’t you but the Lord. I did not know what to think about it, except, I felt I had been captured by the Lord and held in position for something. You seated me and told me you would be right back. While watching you skip up to an older couple that came in behind me at the same time, I looked up at you and saw this glow about you. I shook my head and looked out the window; but, when I watched you moving around the restaurant, that glow seemed to get brighter. Strange as that sounds, I couldn’t take my eyes off you. I said to myself, “She is a pretty girl and has this welcoming personality.” I started reminiscing to myself about how old you were, guessing you were probably 25-26. Then the thought went threw me that you could be a kid for all I knew, and I began reprimanding myself and saying how wrong my judgment of women had been up until now and just left it there. But the Lord quickly said to me, “She is not a kid, but she is the woman and helpmate I have chosen for you.” Well, the mystery of Him asking me to go to Jerry’s was solved. I realized He had something in mind for me and quickly asked Him if I should pursue asking you out, and I received a Big, Fat No, and that he would work in His time and in His way.
Jimmie Sue giggled and said, “MEN! They are always in a hurry!”
Jimmie Sue: “I am glad you didn’t, because it probably would have driven me away especially after having to shoo off Todd. The frame of mind I was in at the time with all the pressures, and Mr. Persistence, I would have been turned off. It was God who also had to get my attention. Sorry, I interrupted, but I felt I needed to let you know that, you taking heed to that word of wisdom from God was certainly true and right on point.”
Chip: “Oh, thank God that I listened to Him, Jimmie Sue! That would have been devastating if I had messed that up, and lost my chance.”
When those words came out of my mouth, in that moment, I had an epiphany: would it be that God would use our relationship to share as part of Pastor Mike’s Friday night services on love and relationships.
I hesitated for a minute when Jimmie Sue asked me what I had seen. She realized something was happening to me when I had shared that thought. I quickly snapped back.
I responded to her, “Yes! I saw something, but I need to wait on God to show me a complete picture.” She quickly remarked that she hoped what I had seen wasn’t going to be an interruption in our growing relationship. I assured her it wasn’t; but on the contrary, it would be something to enrich others from our relationship, especially if I read the Lord right. When I said that, she immediately caught sight of what I meant.
Chip: “Moving on, the Lord told me to keep coming to eat at Jerry’s, and He would open the relationship in His way, and His timing. You have no idea how hard it was to come in and eat every day over the last couple months and how hard it was to keep this to myself. But I realized that I needed to see some things about myself, and I knew how important it was to allow God to move in His own time. Also, how I would have missed Him, and probably would have had a miserable life if I had ended up marrying the wrong person. He was allowing us to become friends first. And then as things moved along, it was to develop into a romance He approved of. I can’t tell you how thankful I am to Him for bringing you to me. I wanted Him to show me His perfect will in finding that person meant for me. Over these weeks I have seen myself in a different light and relationships in a completely different way. By letting the Lord have the reigns, I realized His loving care for me and that He was interested in every detail of my life. I learned to pray from a depth of my heart I hadn’t prayed from before, to see Him as my Father and to be more thankful to Him. It was like I grew from a young man’s heart into having a mature man’s heart, in Him. I might not be making any sense to you, but I know that I know I want to continue on this path. I want to have a relationship that has been made in heaven, and I do not want to do anything to mess it up. Even though I know that might sound naïve because I know life has its up and downs, I do know this, that life can be a whole lot sweeter when God is on your side.”
As I finished saying that, I looked up at her, and tears began to flow down her cheeks. She held my hands and began to thank the Lord that He had answered her prayer. I also began to weep, and we just sat there for, I don’t know… about 10 minutes before we moved. I happened to look up, and our waitress was standing at our table waiting respectfully not to disturb us. When I made eye contact with her, she told me that she needed to let us know that they were closing, and she needed to collect my payment so they could close the register. I apologized and retrieved my wallet from my pocket and gave her my credit card. We couldn’t believe it was 12:35 already. The waitress allowed us to talk right through their clean-up before interrupting us. And on top of that, it was getting late for Jimmie Sue, knowing she would have to work the next morning. I jumped up, and we grabbed our coats as I said to her, “I need to get you home and let you get to bed. I am so sorry; I should have paid more attention to the time knowing you needed to be at work in the morning.” She grabbed me and said,
Jimmie Sue: “Please don’t say that because this was the most perfect night that I could have ever imagined, because I listened to your heart; and I heard what I had been desiring to hear from God for a long time. I wouldn’t have wanted this night to have been any other way. I do not have to go into work until 10:30 in the morning, so I will be ok.”
I took her home, but I think I could have talked all night. I was so glad that we would also have Saturday night together. I walked her to the door, and gave her a good night kiss. She told me she could hardly wait until Saturday night. I told her, “ditto”. I left her and went home wishing it wasn’t so late, because I wanted to call Rob to tell him all about this wonderful night. It’s a prayer of mine to get to take Jimmie Sue to their house for a visit soon, which would even be better; after all, I wanted to show her off and to show my friends the fruits of their prayers for me. Okay, I really wanted them to see her and what a catch she was. I had waited patiently, and I wanted to take her with me everywhere I went. As I said that, the Lord spoke up and said, “Now, my son, this is when you will really have to be patient.” I knew immediately what He meant because of her still being in school, and the things she is facing before she gets started in her career.
Yes, of course you are right Father. She has been working so hard, and I can’t overwhelm her by exposing her to people and putting pressure on her to do something her schedule would not allow. I will have to be understanding and continue to let you have the reigns. I know it has to be in your time and your way. I realize I cannot move too quickly. I think the best thing is to let her tell me, just like she did in telling Jerry of her plans and arranging her schedule for our date.