The Rest of the Story

By Ed Handkins

From the beginning God chose you to be saved…. 2 Thessalonians 3:18b

On February 10, 1962 my bride of 46 years and I shared our first kiss.  Donna had started playing the piano for the Glorylanders Quartet on December 31, 1961. The four guys in the quartet, Dee, Don, Lindell and I, were taking turns picking her up before we sang at a church and taking her home after the event. 

On February 10, 1962 I had a plan.  Privately I approached Dee, Don and Lindell and suggested that should not be available to take Donna home that evening.  Of course that left me as the only one available for this privilege.  

That night was our first kiss.  Neither of us dated anyone else after that night.  Just over a year later, April 21, 1963, we were married.

After we had been married about five years I finally learned what really happened the night of February 10, 1962.  It learned that Donna had also approached Dee, Don and Lindell, each in turn, and suggested that they should not be available to take her home that evening.  Of course that would have made it necessary for me to take her home that night.  Before I had chosen her she had chosen me.

Someone suggested that could be the reason things have worked out so well between us.

As it turns out, this also has a lesson about our salvation.  We choose God only to discover that before we chose Him, He has chosen us.  We can love Him because He first loved us.  We can call out to Him because He first sought us.  Even while we were yet sinners Christ died for us!

Prayer:  Thank God for your salvation.  Thank Him for His love for you and that He has called you to follow Him.  Ask Him to help you live for Him and to share His love with others today.