Today's Encouragement

Your Love Story

Arlene Pellicane

“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” Matthew 19:5 (NIV)

Although I loved my college experience, I managed to graduate without the degree I prayed fervently to receive: the unofficial “M-R-S” degree. I entered college as a single woman and exited the same way.


Four years later, I went to graduate school. A certain young man flipped my hamburger at student orientation. A few weeks later, “hamburger guy” was serving in the same nursing home ministry as I was. You might say he had me at “Jello.” His name was James, and as he shared a Bible study with the residents, I thought, Lord, I want to marry that man!

We became good friends, but I interpreted every friendly gesture as a prelude to romantic love. He’d take me out to ice cream with a “buy one, get one free” coupon. He’d invite me to the movies with his friends. After a year and a half of friendship and nothing more, I finally got the message.

Lord, I prayed, if James is not the man for me, I will surrender my hopes about him to You.

About the same time, James was opening his eyes to the possibility of love. He was planning to take me out for fast-food to proclaim this change of heart, but a friend wisely told him to take me to a restaurant. After dessert, he pulled out a red rose and a yellow rose from underneath a jacket. “We’ve been friends,” he said, “and now I want to find out if we should be more. I would like to date you.”

Five months later, we were engaged. I earned my desired M-R-S degree!

In our key verse about marriage from Matthew 19:5, Jesus is quoting Genesis 2:24, which reads, “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” Here’s the life-changing, foundational principle for the family, given in Genesis and reiterated by Jesus. A man breaks ties from his parents and is permanently joined to his wife. Literally, it means they are glued together. They become one flesh — the basis for unity in marriage. It doesn’t mean every happily married couple will agree about everything, but they agree on being one.

Forsaking all others, I married James 20 years ago. I believe it’s good to remember the early days of dating to keep your marriage sweet and unified. It’s easy to allow frustrations, disappointments and disagreements to erode the unity between a husband and wife. But when I take time to remember how blessed I felt when the relationship began and my husband proposed, it gives me a grateful heart for the man I have.

So what’s your love story? Do you believe you don’t have one? Maybe you’re single, widowed, or your marriage didn’t work out. Remember today that God Almighty is madly in love with you.

Isaiah 54 verses 4a and 5 says, “Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated … For your Maker is your husband — the LORD … Almighty is his name — the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth” (NIV). Wow, now that’s an epic love story! The God of all the universe says, “… my unfailing love for you will not be shaken” (verse 10b).