You were created to be unique. He spent time shaping you and making you into exactly who He wanted you to be. He knows everything about you and He loves you.

In October Ron and I celebrated our 33rd anniversary . In honor of the amazing person i married I decided to share a memory every Monday from our life together.

So let’s start at the beginning…the first time we met (that we actually talked). My cousin had invited me out on the Salvation Army canteen truck for years. Guess it was finally the right time. The truck and volunteers drove around the city of Cleveland to areas with high population of homelessness and would park and feed people.

That night in July I was still recovering from surgery but doing pretty well. Before we started the night there was always prayer. That night Ron (who was in charge of the weekends) asked if he could pray for me. Of course I said yes.

So Ron stood in front of me, put his hand on my head and prayed in a way that was both powerful and intimate at the same time. I don’t think I ever heard anyone pray for me like that before.

The thought that immediately popped into my head (which I think was God speaking to me) was, “Now that’s the kind of man I need to marry.”

Yesterday my husband and I were driving home from my son’s house when something in the sky struck me in a profound way.

The skies were typical Cleveland grey for this time of year, but there was one tiny hole in the clouds where you could clearly see the bluest sky you can imagine.

What I realized was that what I could see from my perspective were gloomy grey skies. But if I were above the clouds I would realize that the skies above are the most clear beautiful blue.

Psalms 139:12b says “The darkness and the light are both alike to You.” Our Heavenly Father sees from a different vantage point and knows that while all we can see in the moment are the grey skies He knows that right behind the clouds the skies are blue and it’s just a matter of time before the darkness clears and the sun shines.

if you are going through a grey season. Be patient. Wait on God. We can have hope in every season because He will bring the light again into our lives. He loves you and He sees the whole picture. His plan is perfect. And you are perfectly loved.

It’s a cold day today and it made me think of a sweet, scraggly, old Mexican homeless man named Louis.

Ron introduced me to Louis on the steps of the Old Stone Church in downtown Cleveland. For a long time Ron had spent evenings with him reading Scriptures and talking to him. But Louis had never spoken to him. So that first night I went out on the Salvation Army truck Ron introduced me and left me there on the steps with him.

I came back in the truck and told Ron, “Did you know he is a musician from Mexico. He came here to play music and has been homeless 40 years?” Ron knew none of that. He asked, “How did you find out all that?” I told him I just asked.

Louis stole my heart. I spent time with him every weekend. When it was cold I’d bring him on the truck in the heat, give him some hot chocolate and just spend time talking to him. I loved that scraggly bearded old man.

Eventually we didn’t see him anymore. He probably passed away. He was someone who if you saw him on the street you might cross the street to not walk by him. Most would never know his name or have a conversation with him. He slept outside on the street and you might see him and think he’s not worth your time.

But taking the time to get to know him I found a man with a heart of gold who lived a very hard life. He is one of the reasons I love hearing people’s stories. Every face has a story. I was blessed to know his.