The Question

The day was like any other normal Thursday evening. A local library was giving a presentation on historical events that had happened in the area, I was interested and asked Brad if he wanted to go along. He agreed. After the presentation we browsed a little and decided to drive to the city to investigate another library. We spent an hour or so burrowing in the second library’s archive, tucked deep within the cold basement looking through geology and history books. The other occupants were several elderly folks who kept their noses in the books.
He grinned, “Probably no one else goes to a library on a date.”
“And definitely not two on the same day.” I laughed.

We finished browsing and headed to my parents house for supper. The evening went by quickly, around 10:30 he and I went out on the porch to watch the distant lightening flickering through the night sky. The glider swing rocked gently as we sat there listening the the low rumble of thunder. He placed his arm behind me on the glider and we rocked on. After a while we felt the need to pray. As he prayed specifically for me he wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me in for a quick but meaningful hug. The prayer ended and we sat there in silence for a moment. He was looking at me. I looked at him and he hugged me again. “Crystal, I love you.” 
I sat there for a moment, letting his words sink in. I felt the need to confirm my love to him. “Well, I feel the same way.”
The words were barely out of my mouth a pack of coyotes began howling and yipping wildly. My heart leapt. A sign from God!  After a moment they faded never to be heard again. We both chuckled.
“I hope that’s a good sign.” he said. We talked a little bit more then he asked, “May I hold your hand again?”
I put my hand in his. He was trembling. Instantly I knew something was up.  He brought up the time that we had first met and how we had been so blessed. Then there was silence, he was looking at me. I glanced at him and he hugged me again. He held me close for several moments. His whole body shook slightly. Then he asked softly “Will you be my wife, Crystal?”
I knew the answer without a doubt. It was an answer that I had been anticipating. “Yes.”
“Really?”
“Sure.”
His eyes shone, “Lets praise God with a prayer.”
And so we did, we were filled with joy, peace and a little uncertainty of what to do next. We decided to spend the next week praying about it and then if we still felt the same way we would tell our family. What a joyous secret to keep!
Before he walked down the sidewalk to his car he said, “I don’t like leaving you. I never have, but this is different.” Indeed it was.