By: Joyce Nana Adwoa Banuaku A few days ago, one of my dearest and oldest friends called me on the phone. She was weeping uncontrollably and my heart ached for her. Sandra is 32 years old and the mother of a beautiful six year-old daughter. We go way back to our high school days back in Houston, TX, where we became fast friends. I had just relocated with my family from Ghana and here I was this frightened 14 year old with a weird accent and completely lost in a world not like the one I was familiar with. Sandra became my rock and my confidant, and over the years we forged a friendship that would withstand the test of time. To hear her sobbing broke my heart. I listened quietly while she wept and waited for her to calm down enough to share what was on her mind. Sandra is such a beautiful person, both inside and out, and somehow, she has always failed at finding true love. Her first relationship was with Alfred, who got her pregnant at age 26 right before her graduation from college. She was devastated when things did not work out because she was convinced that he was the one. When Sandra found out she was pregnant, she was thrilled and was so sure that Alfred would share her excitement. To her dismay, he blew up and after accusing her of trying to trick him into marrying her, told her the relationship was over and that he was not going to let her ruin his future. He went on to graduate from law school and has remained an active part in his daughter’s life. After Alfred, there was Daniel, who left after three years because he said he could not connect with Sandra’s daughter and that their constant disagreements on parenting were bound to be a disaster down the road. Her heart was shattered to pieces. Then there was Eric who left after six months, and Ken who lasted a year. She broke up with him after she found out he was seeing another woman behind her back. She has known heartache and hurt, but she tries to remain strong for the sake of her daughter, Katie. Despite all the hurt and failed relationships, Sandra never waned in her trust and faith in God. Her faith that God would send her the right man, who would be a great husband and a wonderful father to her lovely daughter, at the right time, was amazing. Matter of fact, she was very instrumental in introducing me to God and the Christian life for which I am eternally grateful and blessed. To find a friend and a person with a heart that gives and overflows with such natural and pure love is a treasure. To hear her sobbing on the phone, all I could think was “oh, no, not again. The idiot did not just break her heart again. Still I waited as the sobs turned into nervous bits of laughter. I was confused. “Sandra, are you okay?” I asked. “Yes,” she whispered. “So, what’s wrong?” “Is everything okay?” “What happened?” “He said he needed to talk, what did he say?” “How did it go?” “Did he talk some sense or was he just full of it like always?” Again, there was the nervous laughter, as I could envision her wiping her tear-stained face. “You won’t believe it!” She said in a barely audible whisper. “Believe what?” “Do you need me to come over?” “He asked me to marry him.” “He did what?!” “He asked me to marry him, Nana. Alfred asked me to marry him. I was not expecting that. He came over. He said he needed to talk. I thought he wanted to talk about Katie, but he came with a ring and asked me to marry him. He wants us to be a family and regrets ever letting me go and…” At that point, I think I blacked out because when I came to it, Sandra was sobbing again and muttering thanks and praises to God. I silently fell on my knees and praised God as tears of utter joy run down my face. Six years after their painful breakup, a life of shuttling their beautiful daughter back and forth, Alfred had proposed. Wow! They have a May wedding planned and I am happy to say that God is ever true and he does not fail his children. But, we need to be patient and wait on him. When God is ready, in his own perfect time, he will bless you and reward your patience and trust in ways you could have never imagined. I have believed in God for a very long time, but when Sandra and Alfred announced their engagement, I believed all over again. Alfred is a successful attorney with a government agency in downtown Houston, Sandra teaches fifth grade at the local elementary school, and they have a beautiful daughter together. Remember, God’s timing is perfect! When you trust in him, he will never fail you. | |
