{"id":9764,"date":"2011-03-01T00:16:41","date_gmt":"2011-03-01T00:16:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/2011\/03\/01\/sheopeneddoor\/"},"modified":"2011-03-01T00:16:41","modified_gmt":"2011-03-01T00:16:41","slug":"sheopeneddoor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/content\/sheopeneddoor\/","title":{"rendered":"When She Opened the Door"},"content":{"rendered":"

I<\/strong>t was 50 years ago this month that a mentor-friend said to me casually, “I’ve met a woman that I think would be a great wife for you.”<\/p>

This was no small comment coming from a man who was older than me, certainly wiser, and far more grounded in his relationship to God. His counsel (and rebukes) had always been trustworthy and valued. So for him to say he’d met a woman, who would make a “great wife” for me, certainly caught my attention!<\/p>

When I asked for a description of this mystery woman, my friend described someone who seemed a perfect combination. To borrow a famous line from Keith Miller, she sounded like a combination of Mother Teresa, Betty Crocker, and Elizabeth Taylor—a perfect woman.<\/p>

When he finished his glowing description of this “goddess,” I insisted that I must meet her, and soon! I feared that some potential suitor might meet her before I could. In fact, I pressed my friend so hard to schedule an introduction that, finally, to get me off his back, he made a phone call. Minutes later we he had arranged breakfast with her the next morning.<\/p>

The next day, at the appointed hour, my friend and I stood at her apartment door and knocked. It is said that we tend to form lasting impressions of people within 45 seconds of meeting them (thank you, Malcolm Gladwell) and that could explain, in part, what happened to me 50 years ago when I was introduced to Gail Akerlow.<\/p>

Below is my recollection of that day. I wrote these words, and, a few days ago, read them to Gail during a candle-lit dinner.<\/p>

\n

When I knocked that morning,
\nYou opened the door.<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>

\n

When you opened the door,
\nI saw a vibrant smile,
\nHeard a cheery voice,
\nFelt a firm hand.
\nAnd instantly I knew that I was meeting\nThe one whom I’d been seeking.<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>

\n

When you opened the door,
\nI smelled breakfast, lovingly prepared,
\nHeard beautiful background melodies,
\nSaw order and felt restfulness.
\nAnd instantly I knew I’d come under the spell
\nOf someone who knew what home<\/em> was all about.<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>

\n

When you opened the door,
\nI sensed a partner
\nWho loved to dream,
\nWho longed to serve.
\nAnd instantly I knew that you were someone
\nWith whom I could share my life.<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>

\n

When you opened the door,
\nI had this insight:
\nThat I was face to face with a woman
\nWho could love me into maturity.
\nAnd instantly I knew
\nThat I could love her just as well.<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>

\n

When you opened the door,
\nI was sure that Christ was right beside you,
\nThat you were loyal to him,
\nThat you were his follower.
\nAnd instantly I knew
\nThat we would walk with him together.<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>

\n

When you opened the door,
\nI warmed to your welcome.
\nfor at that door I met the woman
\nThat God had promised if I’d trust him.
\nAnd instantly I was sure
\nThat everything in life was going to be different.<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>

Thank you<\/em> for opening the door.<\/p>

A month later I asked Gail to marry me. Five months later we walked the aisle.<\/p>

Here are some lessons from my story:<\/p>