Sunday Morning- “And members hear me clearly; God will never put more on you than you can bear. He hears and answers our prayers. Just be patient and trust God. Let us stand and be dismissed.”

The Rev. Denver Wilson was not just well spoken he was intelligent, charismatic, handsome and single. Rev. Wilson was 37 years old and a very accomplished best-selling author. When he wasn’t working on a novel he was busy ministering at his church. Of course, many members of Spirit of Truth Ministries felt Rev. Wilson should have a First Lady Wilson and the leading candidate in everyone’s mind was Sis. Monica Dupree. Ms. Dupree was beautiful beyond words. She was a 35 year old tax attorney who had been secretly in love with Denver since they were both students at Clark- Atlanta University.

In those days Denver was pursuing a degree in English Education, and Monica was a college freshman who couldn’t help falling hard for the editor of the school paper for which she was a writer. Her boss had the warmest smile she’d ever seen and could light up a room just by being in it. He was always so nice to her and always willing to listen. In her eyes he was the man of her dreams, but her boss, Denver, was clueless about her attraction to him.

With all of his good looks and charm, Denver could have easily been quite the ladies man but he was just the opposite. He was the perfect gentleman. Denver hadn’t dated many girls during his college years. He was a church boy to the bone and he held fast to his beliefs by being kind and respectful to everyone. Most girls found him strange. Some even questioned his sexuality. Monica admired this. She understood him and longed for this kind of man who could respect her Christian values. Their friendship stayed intact all throughout the years, and as fate would have, it they both ended up in the same town.

At age 32 Denver had written what would become his first of several best sellers. So with his new found wealth and his recent ordination into the ministry, he left his job as a high school English teacher to start his work in the ministry. Monica came into town a few years after law school and had heard about this dynamic young pastor at Spirit of Truth Ministries. Since she was looking for a church home she decided to attend. To her surprise the pastor at this church was Denver and upon seeing him immediately her heart melted. They talked after service and got caught up on old times. Once again the college buddies were friends.

Five years had passed and Monica feeling herself getting old, wanted a husband but being the strong minded female she was she didn’t let this consume her. She knew she wanted Denver. She hadn’t pursued him in all these years because she loved him in a way that she couldn’t risk damaging. As much as she cared for him she held her feelings for him inside.

Denver saw Monica as a little sister and now as a member of his congregation. He loved her in a very special way because she always understood him. After college Denver had dated several women, none worth mentioning, and hadn’t found one open to the idea of a Christian relationship. He was searching for a potential life partner while they were searching for a potential bed partner. Denver had been promiscuous during his high school days and after thinking for a moment he may have fathered a child (false alarm) he realized he needed to slow down. He became more involved with church and at age 19 he gave his life to Christ.

Monica needed Denver to know how she felt and he could take it however he pleased. She wrestled with how she was going to tell him. Should she do it over lunch or dinner? Should she ask him on a date or should she get him alone and tell him in private? Her head was spinning. While her brain was doing back flips she received a phone call from a church member outlining the details of the valentine’s dinner and dance and soliciting her input. Monica had an idea! Monica would be doing the welcome address at the dance. She put her plan into action. First of all, she made sure she was Denver’s date for the event. “Denver? Hi this is Mo, sorry I missed you but I called to let know I would like nothing better than to be your date for the Valentine’s dinner dance and please don’t say no. God bless and good-bye.”

Upon returning home and checking his messages Denver called her up. “Well, aren’t you straight-forward? I would be honored to have you as my date.” Monica blushed. She asked “How long have we been friends Denver”? “Since you were a freshman in college,” he replied. “Well, that’s too long to keep a secret”. Denver was puzzled. What secret had he been keeping? But the secret wasn’t his it was hers and she would reveal it at the dance. Denver was curious as could be. What had this woman been keeping from him? It was five days until the dance, a long five days for Rev. Wilson. Monica never had his attention so completely.

He called her daily. “Just checking on my date”. He didn’t know whether to worry or pray or pray and worry! He was a ball of nerves and so was Monica. The day of the dance had arrived. Monica had an early hair appointment. Denver tried to settle his nerves by keeping busy. He hit the gym first then cleaned up the escalade. Still worse than a kid at Christmas Denver went by the hair salon, picked up Monica’s car and cleaned it as well. Denver arrived nearly a half hour ahead of schedule. He was so worked up about Monica’s big secret. When she came downstairs she was radiant. Denver couldn’t find any words. “Wow” was all he could utter out. Monica was absolutely breathtaking. At the dance Monica and Rev. Wilson made a grand entrance. They looked so lovely together. Everyone was in awe.

“Welcome everyone to The Spirit of Truth Ministries Annual Valentine’s Day Dance and Dinner. I’m delighted to see all of you lovely couples here tonight and everyone looks so fabulous. It’s Valentine’s Day and I want everyone to share a sweet secret with their valentine and I’ll start first. As most of you know Rev. Wilson and I have been friends since college but what he doesn’t know is that I’ve been crazy about him since the day we met. He always treated me like a little sister but for me he’s always been my knight in shining armor. Denver I love you, I’ve always loved you and I want to be more than just your date for this dance but your date from now on”. Normally Denver is in command of the crowd and the floor belongs to him but not at this moment. Monica had everyone’s attention. Mouths hung open. Oohs and aahs filled the room. Denver sat motionless for what seemed like forever. His eyes were glassed over with tears. He had been moved beyond words.

His mind had been flooded with so many thoughts. Here was this beautiful and intelligent woman whom it seems he had known forever confessing her love for him and he never had a clue. All of her qualities suddenly stood out in grand fashion and he did the only thing he could. Never saying a word he walked over to Monica and kissed her as passionately as the moment required. Nothing needed to be said. Their kiss was worth a thousand words. Their destiny had come full circle. The love that was meant to be finally was.