A sweet little story

I’d been driving around with the box for the last few days. It was a gray shoebox, imprinted with wedding words on the cover, and decorated with a sheer white wire ribbon. “Can you be there at 10 a.m. on Saturday, and give this box to her?”

I assured the focused young man that I was on mission. I’d be there.

The drop point was a deserted dog park near the Lake Michigan shore. I was one link in a day-long scavenger hunt chain that would lead to his marriage proposal, stop number two on a journey that would remind the young woman about the couple’s shared past, rich present, and prayers and dreams of a wonderful future together.

I saw her car round the bend, and hopped out of mine so she would see me. She was teary, and stunned: “You’re in on this?”

Are you kidding? I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. I encouraged her to give herself over to the day, to enjoy the journey, and to let me know when she’d reached the day’s destination at last. We prayed, laughed, and I sent her on her way to stop number 3. I couldn’t stop smiling about the sweetness of it all – and the joy of being able to see her face on her way to meet her beloved, who was waiting (I believe) at stop number 12.

She left me a message later that evening. “I’m engaged!”

What fun to be a part of such a joyful beginning!