A Good and Perfect Gift

Gò0dNews for Men

A Good and Perfect Gift

by Chuck Cleveland

When I asked God for a Christian wife, I sensed His reply was, “What exactly do you want?” Somewhat encouraged, I proceeded to make a five-fold request. Barbara meets all five of those characteristics, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

In February of 1975 I had attended a singles retreat over Valentine’s at Kay and Jack Arthur’s Reach Out Ranch in Chattanooga. When another retreat was announced for late September that year, I encouraged my fellow singles at our church in Atlanta to go, and many of them did. I had a responsibility at the church on Friday night that weekend, but I drove a little over 100 miles on Saturday morning to participate in the remainder of the conference.

What I didn’t know was that Kay had concluded her teaching Friday night by asking those present if God wanted them to remain single, would they be willing to do so. Barbara surrendered her desire for marriage on Friday night, only to meet her future husband the next evening.

I have no idea why I was sitting by myself toward the rear of the room that Saturday night. But there I was when Barbara came in, looking for a seat. I would like to think I would have done the same for a less attractive woman, but we’ll never know. Barbara was very pretty, and I motioned there was an empty seat near me, which she hurriedly took.

We met during a break and had a pleasant conversation. We continued that talk the next day at the conference and decided to extend our time together Sunday afternoon. I don’t recall when the conversation about spiritual matters turned to romance, but it certainly did, and as I drove home, I sensed the Lord asking me, “What was it you recently prayed about?” Could Barbara be the answer to that prayer?

I was starting the book of James the next morning and I wondered if God would provide direction from that letter. “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt . . .” (James 1:5-6a). I clearly lacked wisdom, but I was ready to believe what God would show me.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17). In September 1975 I took those verses as confirmation that Barbara was indeed the answer to my prayer for a Christian wife, and ten months later we married. After forty-five years together, I continually thank my loving heavenly Father for His good and perfect gift.

About The Author Chuck Cleveland lives in Newnan, GA and has written for three area magazines, as well as the local newspaper. He has been a Christian for over 50 years.