I’ve never seen her this excited about a man. My aunt, almost 70, has never been married, thought it hasn’t been for lack of chances. She’s been engaged twice. Once to a man who they were supposed to go and be missionaries somewhere. After their couple interview, an old man told her it’d be best if she didn’t marry him. He wouldn’t treat her well and she wouldn’t be happy. She took the advice to heart and never looked back.

Then there was Tim. They dated, were engaged and then were not engaged, and remained friends for a long time, but he was also an alcoholic which was why it didn’t work. There was always a reason, something wrong with whatever man had liked her or pursued her. When she was 33, she and Muggs walked the property of Grandma and Grandpa’s land. We followed them around as they decided the fate of their relationship.

It wasn’t to be. And it’s hard to wonder why when he went on to marry Janie who he was happily in love with and also had two children with. Even when I’d see him in pictures through the years I would wonder why it wasn’t him. They were childhood friends and had grown up together. What was there not to love? In our 20’s there was Carl from her church and he seemed nice. We asked, but she didn’t like him like that.

There were others. But one I’d never heard about was Tim from her high school class. About a month ago (tomorrow) he reached out to her over text and they’ve been talking ever since. They’ve talked on the phone and texted pictured. They haven’t yet Facetimed and I told her that was the next step. I can understand the hesitation but all it’s going to take is one time and she’ll be used to it. We could practice if she wanted.

We’re all just like, “Why not?” No one she’s told so far has raised any red flags. Grandma, of course, has been praying for her to find a husband for many years. And even I now feel car. She gave us all a little booklet that her pastor had written about marriage and the fruits of the Spirit (let us not become conceited, provoking one another…) All of us are married (me, my sisters, my parents). There are things to learn.

Mom reminded us girls that our awake time was early, and wisdom recommended sleep. We listened, said our goodbyes to Mom and Dad, and moved next door to our room. Our aunt followed us in, for there was more on her mind and of course we had to hear it. She has listened to us, prayed for us, been an aunt to us for all of these years. His long-time wife, gone almost a year, was a Methodist pastor. And we all said, “And??”

Not those exact words but that was the attitude. There are things as time goes on that seem like not as big of a deal as maybe they would’ve been five or ten or twenty years ago. Christian women can get worked up about the idea of following a man. He has to lead me, this is what the Bible says. Somewhere I’m sure it does, but following a man can be rejoicing in who he is, being happy with this person who has come into your life.

Yes there are other things to talk about and she will have to do that too. I’m looking forward to getting home and being again with my family. There was a team dinner, Dad preached, and Liz’s girls are supposed to wear yellow tomorrow for Yellow Day. But in the meantime we just took it in and shared in the stories, the journal entries from long ago, the gratitude notebook marked for nearly a year with T.C., meaning “Tim called”.