From the very beginning, there was something so different about him. We met through our respected jobs. At the time, I was working in Tampa, Florida and Bill in Savannah, Georgia. From the very first time our paths crossed, it was magical. He stood out and made an impactful impression. He was so jolly and up-beat, trying to help me with a problem that wasn’t even his. It was with a load of material his company had shipped for mine; his company was the trucking that hauled the loads, my company manufactured the product.
After Bill provided me with the documentation that I required to do my job; I asked him could I call on him again instead of the person I had dealt with for many years? He told me sure and that he would be happy to help, even though it was not his job. He was willing to help with a problem that was better suited for a subordinate. He was in charge of the computer systems (levels above, yet he still took the time to help me).
At first, we began speaking only at work. He later gave me his phone number to call him at home, I was not about to give him my number. I was convinced he was married, there was no way he could not be; he was just too nice and kind. I was going to wait until a time that I thought sure I would get him busted and that would be the end of that. I did call and each time, nothing was out of the ordinary. He was not trying to talk softly, he did not care what time I called, no female every answered the line. Still I was not convinced – I would eventually catch him, he would not out smart me forever.
We were racking up some tremendous phone bills trying to get to know one another. The year was 1992 and long distance was not free, no cell phones, and it was 25 cents a minute. After discovering that he was not married or involved with anyone, from that time on, I was hooked. I took it one-step further laying out my personal ground rules that were non-negotiable in a relationship:
No smoking, no drinking, no abuse, no partying, no drugs!
“For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe [a man] with rags” Proverbs 23:21
“I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat” I Corinthians 5:9-11
He assured me that he did none of these and they were all non issues to him. My concerns were all related to my failed marriage, and I was not about to revisit any of them ever again. I was quite content to be alone for the rest of my life, opposed to having anyone creating that kind of havoc in my life again. Little did I realize that my plan to have a better life would be sabotaged by me! I would become my own worst enemy.
I also had a precious daughter that I was trying to do my best by; Diana was my top priority! I was attempting to lead by example and there was no room for being lenient on any of these vices, even once. I admittedly was amazed how he seemed to fit the bill so perfectly. He was tailor made for me. I had no way of knowing that God was orchestrating the move. Therefore, that would explain why he was tailor made for me.
One year later, September 3, 1993, we were married. It was one of the BEST things I could have ever done! For what ever reason, I still to this day cannot explain, I didn’t pray to God (if you can call it a prayer) except to daily thank Him for Bill! All I know for certain was that it was God’s hand and not mine. Go figure?!
Why would I thank God for something, when I didn’t even pray to Him? All I can say is SOMEHOW; I was able to see God’s hand in it – even then. Why I never chose to take the credit for finding Bill is completely beyond me.
Lynn’s voice recorded Poem Bill My Dream she wrote: 
The reason I say this is to say God put him in my life, long before I truly needed him. The day was going to come and God knew just what I needed.
While arduous at times throughout our 18 years of marriage, we have faced financial difficulties, family tragedies, depression, and medical issues. God was keeping us together, for the day would come when the tables would turn and Bill would need me, if you can image that.
After having received the Holy Ghost again, God impressed upon me that Bill was my responsibility, to try to help him see the one true God. Not the trinity that he had believed in all his life although he had been baptized, just not in Jesus name. I was faced with yet another obstacle, how could I help someone I loved so much, when I couldn’t get my head around what his faith believed and how to get him to see what I had taken for granted? I prayed so much and asked everyone that I could for any and all assistance. I needed help desperately!
He would always come to church with me. However, he did not agree with all the pastor had to say.
There was a way … I didn’t begin to know how to accomplish this task. I would keep pressing forward, doing what God inspired me to do. Bill would not speak directly to anyone other than me regarding this matter. That only made it that much more difficult for me. That was the way he wanted it, just as stubborn as I had been with my unspoken rule. Oh, when they talk about paybacks I was certainly paying once again. Bill was now being just as obstinate and as you can imagine. I did not like it one bit. But one thing I can tell you is after having been in those shoes I fully understood.
I would find myself praying and fasting a lot, I HAD to reach God for Bill. He was too important to me; he had been there all those years when I needed him. Often after a few days Bill would figure out that I was fasting, he just never knew it was for him. He was that important to me. I have found that the things that we think are of importance we place a higher priority on. He certainly was one of my very top priorities.
God gave me the patience; I never thought I could have.
Patience God’s unveiling
“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Psalms 27:14
“Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.” Job 32:11
It was to take 329 days, just shy of a year, before Bill saw the revelation of the one true God and God filled him with the Holy Ghost, while sitting in his pew with his hands raised.
His family was happy we were going to church, but not so thrilled when they found that he didn’t see things as he once had (in the trinity). I pray God keeps him STRONG and he is able to stand when times get rough. For him they have already become tough. He is faced with struggles that he has never faced before and situations he didn’t expect.
Don’t look back
“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62
Married to my best friend, love of my life, and soul mate, all rolled into one, Bill. Yes, when you meet him, you will see all the tremendous qualities one man can posses. He had been crushed from his past relationships and was looking for someone to love and be loved by when God put him in my life and our paths crossed.
I have made many mistakes in all avenues of my life. I have gotten angry and had to apology many times over, most of them to Diana and Bill. I am thankful to God, he has been so good to me and I do my best to treat Bill with the love and respect he deserves.
I recall from when I was a teenager I had a pen pal who was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, who told me to “set my sights so high and I would never be disappointed”, he was right! That is just what I did when I was to marry again, my sights were set HIGH and I was not dropping them down for anyone.
I began to learn I did not want someone that barked orders and would tell me what to do but would lead by example. The best leaders are the ones that are willing to be in the trenches with you, to actually get their hands dirty, to bring themselves to your level not because they have to, because they can. Major General Smedley Butler, USMC is one of the best examples I know. I would have loved to have the privilege to have known him.
No one likes someone with a superior attitude, yet it is easy to ‘think’ you are better than someone because you have more money or power. None of those are important to God, the heart is what is important; after all He knows it all including our thoughts. It is God’s world.
Those can all go away in an instant. Ask victims of a disaster who have lost everything. It is not important. When faced with the realities of life, the only thing that matters is life itself. That is why you can see people who have lost everything and they are grateful to be alive.
It is all in your attitude.
Haughty
“LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.” Psalms 131:1
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18
“In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.” Zephaniah 3:11
Bill has a wonderful heart and loves God. I am exceeding grateful God chose to put him in my life for I certainly didn’t deserve him. After all, he was another of my gifts from God! And God chose to put Bill in my life long before I needed him, thank you Sweet Jesus!
I am not perfect but I found an excellent example to live by as with most things in our life we look for a role model. Mine is JESUS. He walked on this earth and knows full well the trials and troubles that one will face. He suffered more than any of us will ever know, yet He is still God.
We have all sinned
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23
“Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” Proverbs 20:9
Jesus never sinned
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” II Corinthians 5:21
“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:” I Peter 2:21-22
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15