True Romance

This is a true story about romance. This is not a fairy tale written in a long ago day of magic and dragons and enchanted princesses. This is a story about a man and a woman and a God that controls everything.

It started a long time ago in a hospital birthing room. The man was born into a normal family in a normal town in our fair country, the U.S. of A. He was a healthy, noisy little child, and his family named him John (all names are changed to protect the individuals here.)

A few years later in another state, another hospital ward room, was born a little girl. She was a healthy child, quiet, reserved, and her mother called her Marsha.

John and Marsha grew up in similar circumstances. Both attended public schools, both wanted to have a house and children someday...both were young, and happy, and innocent.

Although in seperate states and environments both children grew up with knowlege of the Church that God built. Marsha stayed saved and led a typical life of one who is raised in Truth. She got saved and sanctified at a young age, had the usual battles and temptations, but allowed herself to draw near to God and cultivated the truth that was taught her in Sunday School.

Our story focuses on the rapidly maturing young man we know as John. John was raised early on in truth, but through manifold testing of the devil, his family went through a divorce, and he was taken out of the truth with his mom and raised in comparative darkness. His dad showed up and John visited with him, but he viewed his dad as old and out of touch with life.

John remembers reaching the age of accountability and his first curse word that seperated him from the innocent and sheltered life he enjoyed. John went through school as a normal child, and he loved to have fun and pull pranks. He was rowdy, healthy and should have grown up as an Alpha Male and a strong, productive leader.

In his high school years, John allowed his hyperactive nature to get the best of him and his schoolwork earned less than average scores. He hung out with the wrong crowd, and learned how to ditch school, do drugs, and he cultivated these desires.

John's sister, Sharnell accompanied him in alot of his rowdy doings, and participated in the unruly life that he lived. Together they partied, and lived a life on the broad road of sin. John tells stories about his party days, and is able to relate times that he suffered horrible physical abuse from those whom he called 'friends.' Sometimes tears come to John's eyes as he tells this testimony and how different his true friends in the Church are from those of his party days.

Sharnell came to know truth eventually. Through a combination of her father's prayers and friends who invited her to church, God was able to convict her soul and brought her to an altar of repentance. She proved herself, and married a fine man named Jeffrey.

On Sharnell and Jeffrey's wedding day, John recieved a strong dose of truth as he sat through the ceremony. Marsha was also there and she fell in love with John. She felt that he was the one that God had sent for her. In the months and years afterward she experienced strong emotional distress.

John left the wedding sort of dazed. He witnessed the change in Sharnell's life. The change that brought her from a girl crazed on drugs, and addicted to cigarettes to a beautiful young lady. This change was not a change brought on by therapy. No John knew that God had changed Sharnell's heart. John saw that the addictions had left Sharnell's life the same moment that God forgave her sins.

Sharnell tried to talk to John about it and she told John that he could have this same thing if he wanted it. John didn't.

John was not only addicted to drugs, but he also had a gambling problem. He stole from his mother and lived a life that threatened to destroy his career and kill his body. Little did he know that Martha was in love with him and was praying for him.

Martha was going through a hard trying time. Growing up in a Church that does not practice ecuminicalism is difficult for those who are looking for a companion. The devil will tell someone that it is impossible for them to find the right match in Church, and will try to convince them to go into the world and marry someone. That is a foolish move, but unfortunately many young men and women choose that option and lose their souls. Few of these people ever get saved again, and fewer unsaved companions convert into the Church that God built.

Sharnell was concerned for her friend Marsha. She knew that Marsha was in love with her wayward brother, and she tried to warn Marsha, but it was of little use. Marsha could not be disuaded from loving John. Sharnell was worried about it. Worried that Marsha would lose her faith in God through this situation. Marsha was tried sorely. She wanted to get married and she didn't think that she would ever find someone in truth. God had to bring someone to the church for her to get married to.

John hit rock bottom one day. He burned his final paycheck in a casino and lost his job. Life was over. His body was ruined from alcohol, drugs and dissipation. John went to church. He heard that God could take the train wreck of his life and turn it around. He heard that the toxic waste dump of his body could be healed and his addictions erased. His mind could be righted and he wouldn't have to worry about his past anymore. Marsha saw him in that service and was praying. Sharnell saw him in that service and was praying. Sharnell's husband Jeffrey who worked with John saw him in that service and was praying. God knew he was in service and felt the tug from all the prayers. God told the pastor to preach, and preach he did.

John was gloriously saved that service. His addictions left right away. Eventually he got his job back and got his life straightened out. God changed his heart and healed his mind and body. God is love.

John and Marsha were married a few years later. They have two beautiful children and a happy home and marriage. Nobody recognizes the new John. His friends from high school can't believe that he is a productive member of society.

At every wedding that John and Marsha sit through, they remember their wedding and the trials that led up to it. God made everything work out and they live happily ever after. True Romance is Not A Pipe Dream. God is the God that always comes through.

If you are a young person and have wondered if you are ever going to get married remember the tale of John and Marsha. Perhaps you will one day meet them and be encouraged.

I have. My name is David and this is a True Story. e-mail me at: not.a.pipe.dream@gmail.com

Thanks for reading.