FEB 2021: TAMI STEWART

​Allow me to introduce you to the Stewarts, Carl and Tami. We currently reside in Concord, NC and have been married for 2 years.  While this is not my first marriage, Carl has never been married before and has no biological children.  I have a 20 year old son from my previous marriage.

We have more of a testimony about trusting and believing in the Lord’s will for your life than the typical boy meets girl story.  Carl and I worked in different departments for the same airline.  For at least 4 years, Carl needed to come to my office at least 3 times a week to turn in paperwork.  The last 2 of those years, I noticed he started dropping hints about going to dinner or doing a day trip.  Each time I just ignored it or laughed it off saying, “yeah ok...”

You see, I had absolutely no interest in dating.  In fact, because my son was only 7 years old when I first separated, I chose not to date for the next 10 years.  My focus was primarily on raising him, working and becoming an entrepreneur on the side.  

Fast forward to 2017. This was the year “I” thought I was ready to date.  So I began accepting dates from  men that had been asking me out.  The problem was that just before each date they all canceled and for good reasons I might add.  

It wasn’t until one night in October of 2017 that I understood the real reason why all of those dates canceled.  During a women’s reflect event at church we were asked to close our eyes and take a moment to listen to what the Lord had to tell us. I clearly heard the Lord say “ I am not going to let anyone come into your life until you fully understand my love for you.”  I said, “what Lord?”  He repeated that same message.   

Without hesitation I raised my hands and said “okay Lord in obedience I submit my will for yours.  Let your will be done in my life.” I never gave dating another thought.  That wasn’t the case with Carl Stewart though.  Remember for 2 years he had already been dropping hints about taking me out on a date.  I guess by February of 2018 he had decided to stop hinting and wanted to make a bold statement.

On Valentine’s Day, Carl entered my office with a teddy bear sitting on a heart shaped box, holding a little heart shaped box of candy and a single red rose with a Valentine’s card.  I was surprised, shocked, amazed, confused and grateful all at the same time. 

Before he left my office he said “you know I am still trying to take you out to dinner.”  I quickly wrote my number down and gave it to him, but in the back of my mind I thought it wasn’t going to happen anyway because of the message the Lord had given me back in October.  However, the Lord did allow this one to happen.

We had our first date 10 days later and I have to admit it turned out to be one of the best dates I had ever been on.  There was a second, a third, so fourth and so on.  For the first couple months things seemed to move along effortlessly. 

In April I told him about my testimony from the women’s reflect event.  He sat looking stunned for a minute and then said “wow you will never believe this.  For the past 2 years I have been praying and crying out to the Lord asking him to send me the woman that is suppose to be my wife. Let her know the Lord and let her be obedient. The Lord kept showing me your face.”  Then there I sat very still looking stunned....  

First date 2/24/18.  Wedding date 11/3/18.  I went from not even thinking about a man in January to married 10 months later.  It was all about His will, His plan and His timing.  We just have to be obedient and trust and believe in Him.

WIFE WISDOM 
"Be or do whatever it is that you desire from your spouse, to your spouse.  Eventually it will be reciprocated."

"Always try to listen to your spouse for understanding instead of listening to respond.  Be sure to respectfully agree to disagree in conversations  where your opinions may differ."

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