Valentines Day

Our Story

This blog entry is a recollection of the beginning of a great love story. The story of Gary and Susie Ream.

Gary and I met at Grand Rapids Baptist College. I was pre-engaged to a young man back home and Gary was checking out the prospects. Although I was pre-engaged, I wasn’t blind. After weeks of getting to know people on campus, I had singled him out with great admiration. From a distance I observed that he was very handsome, he was intelligent, he had leadership skills and was firmly grounded in his faith.

During the course of establishing myself, I chose a local Church I could call home away from my home Church. Gary was the song and choir leader at this Church— I was in his choir. The more I saw of this guy, the more I respected him. He had integrity and was kind—he was also a girl magnet. In my opinion this was a guy who would go far in life and although I held him in high regard—I never spoke to him.

As I became more immersed in College life, I began to question the validity of my relationship with my guy from back home. No one knew this—I didn’t even want to admit it. I thought I loved this guy but with distance between us, I began to see some weaknesses that I hadn’t seen before.

One Sunday night at Church I found that, because of an event being held on campus, there were no other College students there. I took a seat, by myself, and waited for the service to begin. A young man came up from behind me and asked if he could sit by me. It was Gary—I was so nervous I didn’t know what to say. I managed to utter a little o.k. When he sat down I didn’t think to move over. Then because I was so nervous—I couldn’t think what to do. I thought— ‘if I move over he’ll think I don’t want him to sit here” but if I don’t move over he’ll think I’m too close.’ As I was frantically trying to decide which course to take, Gary is thinking, ‘what is wrong with this girl? Why doesn’t she move over?’ Just then he looked at my face, which was glowing red, and got the picture. He realized I was in a predicament and didn’t know what to do. To my great pleasure a couple of students rescued me by coming up behind us to talk. I casually ‘moved’ and turned to talk to them.

As we were sitting there Gary pointed to my ring and boldly asked “what does that ring mean?” I had to honestly tell him, “I don’t know right now.” Much later he told me that, weeks before during prayer time, while I was praying, he felt like he was listening to a personal conversation between a girl and her God. He was struck by my honesty and love for God, and so he peeked! After that experience, he decided that he was going to get to know me.

That night, after walking me back to the dorm, Gary sought out his Resident Advisor (RA). He said, Terry I have to talk to you right now. Terry listened as Gary told him that he had met the girl he was going to marry. He told Terry that there was only one problem; I was pre-engaged. He continued, “we need to pray that she will break up with this guy!” It is hard for me to believe that he convinced Terry, but the two of them did pray that night that I would break up with my high school sweetheart. After praying Gary continued to tell Terry that he would give me a pre-engagement ring in 2 years, a diamond in 2 1/2 years and that he would marry me after 3 years.

Amazingly, it happened just as he said. I got the man of my dreams and although life has not been easy, we have had the security of knowing that we have each other, for better or for worse. He is my Valentine and I thank God for his unconditional love for me!
I wish you all a very Happy Valentines Day! My wish for you all is that you know God as the supreme example of the Best Valentine Ever—He layed down His life for YOU—He is the lover and the pursuer of your soul.

For those of you who read this—thanks for indulging me!
Susie