He Popped the Question

Our lives are not a random series of events; they tell a Story that has meaning. —John Eldredge

This past November, my youngest son excitedly walked toward me with a small white box in his hand, his face lit up with the energy his body exuded. This young man, who preferred homeschooling on my lap rather than beside me, was planning his proposal to the love of his life. It seemed a long time ago when he was perched on my lap at ten-years-old reading to me when I asked him, “Will you still sit on my lap when you’re 20?”

Wrapping his arms around my neck he exclaimed, “Yes, I will always sit on your lap!” 

Now, he is 20 and 6’3” and too big to sit on my lap. But, he’s still a big lover and pulls me in tight for bear hugs. And our big lover was now planning to propose to his beloved.

WHERE IT BEGAN

She first captured his heart on a choir trip in the winter of their sophomore year at Timber Creek High. He sent me a text message with a photo of them at the Broadway Musical Wicked. I could hardly wait for him to return home so that I could hear his story of the one who had stirred his heart.

Dennis walked in the door after picking Cole up the night he returned from the trip and declared, “He has a lot of energy...and words. He must be full of caffeine.”

I smiled and replied, “I think he’s full of love.” 

“Huh?” Dennis replied as Cole walked toward me with a smile from ear to ear.

Zoe had awakened his heart that weekend and he was intoxicated. We have enjoyed the privilege of journeying with them throughout the past four years as they’ve matured into young adults. They have trekked over mountains and through valleys as they’ve written their love story. It is a really good story. And it has been really good to journey with them as they have wrestled and fought to grow into the lovers God created them to be. 

HOW IT ALL WENT DOWN

On February 12, Cole led Zoe down to a deck overlooking the Chattahoochee River in Atlanta…

And he brought out a quarter. 

I know. You probably weren’t expecting that. But it was so fitting for the moment. Four years earlier Cole had asked Zoe to be his girlfriend through a magic trick. It was perfectly them for him to lay the groundwork for this life-altering question with another trick. One move led to the next and then…

Zoe refused to light the flash paper because she can be a little bit skittish sometimes. I love this about her. She was terrified the Bic lighter would burn her if she were to flick the little metal wheel downward. So for the next two minutes, he begged her to “Flick his Bic” and light the flash paper. For two long minutes, she could not bring herself to do it and begged him to just light the paper himself. 

This was also perfectly Zoe and Cole. 

Finally, Cole conceded to light the flash paper and as it burst into a small flame devouring it almost instantly, Zoe ran back in fear. He chased her with an outstretched arm presenting the little white box. Pulling her back into view of the Go Pro, he dropped to one knee, declaring his love for her and his desire to begin writing a new volume in their lives with a little bit of magic as well, but with a ring rather than a coin. 

She bent over and laid a big smooch on him, laughing and giving him her big, “YES!” 

I will never tire of a good love story, and theirs is a good one. During this season of Lent, in which we are invited to journey with Jesus in his wilderness—choosing to empty ourselves of something that we may hold Him with less resistance and bear Him with deeper grace—the Author of the most creative love story has given us a moment of abundance as Cole and Zoe mirror His artfully crafted story.