Rays of Light

Imagine how you would feel if at some point during your engagement your fiancé said to you, “I love you and I can’t wait to marry you, but there is something you should know. I love someone else more, and I always will.” Mine did. Then he handed me a cassette tape and asked me to listen.

I quickly hurried to my dorm room. With fumbling hands and pounding heart, I turned on the cassette player. My thoughts whirled during the brief music intro, then I listened to the following words:

I’ll sing you a love song cause you came to my mind.
It’s not a typical love song, cause it’s one of mine.
When I say that I love you, you know that it’s true;
even though you’re number two.

It’s not that I love you less than best,
For each day I love you more and more and more.
But there can only be one first place in my heart,
And you know who that’s for — The Lord!

I know — Jesus is number one in my heart
so second place will have to do for you.
But I’m counting on spending the rest of my life
in love with the two of you…. (©Mickey and Becki Moore)¹

My heart leapt for joy! My prayer had been answered. I know that many people, when praying for their future spouse, offers the Lord a check list of things they desire in a mate. I only asked for three things (that he wouldn’t snore was one of them) and left the rest up to the Lord and His infinite wisdom.

Number one on my list was that I be my husband’s second place love. I prayed that he would be a godly man who loved the Lord even more than me and that he would forever do so. Not only did the Lord grant me that desire, but he confirmed it through my loving fiancé when he handed me that tape.

The Lord has such an incredible way of dropping us little ‘love notes’ which say “I heard you and I have answered your prayer.” And His timing is perfect. When Mickey and Becky Moore recorded Love Song for Number Two back in the seventies, they didn’t know the Lord would use it to confirm my prayers a decade later, but He did.

A few days ago, my friend announced her daughter’s wedding date. Kati is the same age as my daughter so that unhinged me a little, being that they are both so young. But I have to face facts; my daughters are now young women who will marry one day in the near future and I must be ready. My prayer for my children is, and has always been, that they also marry godly spouses who love the Lord even more than them; because I know that the very best marriages in the world are built on godly foundations.

If you are reading this blog and you are single, but plan to marry one day, please believe me that the very best place to be is in second place. If the Lord is number one in your spouse’s heart he or she will naturally love you the way God intended.

Finally, never forget that as much as you and your spouse love each other, God loves you both even more. He wants you to have a healthy, happy marriage and it will be if the Lord is in the center of it …
a threefold cord in not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

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[You may enjoy the song here: Love Song for Number Two]

[¹Moore, Mickey and Becki.  Album: Love Song for Number Two. Maiden Music. P.O.Box 2492 Charlottesville, VA. 22902. (434) 293-5400     http://www.mickeyandbecki.com/music.php]

Postscript: My husband doesn’t snore. I told you, God answers prayers, and boy and I glad!

p.s.s. If you are planning to marry and you recognize that your spouse is a priceless gift to you from the Lord, the following song is great for God-centered weddings: