I was at Highland’s Gazebo checking the garlands of fresh lilies-of-the valley, chrysanthemums, tulips and red roses arranged at every corner of the walkway where Leila was to pass through before going to the gazebo, where an intricately-designed round table was also placed. This was where she would sit across Dylan for the dinner proposal.
It was indeed a breath taking scene, overlooking cedars, pine trees and oaks of the Houston and Arizona highlands. Glistening waters of a clear lake in the middle became the highlight as well of the heavenly setting. Along every corner of the restaurant were arrays of neatly groomed bushes and freshly pruned fruit trees, accented with small Japanese lanterns and white lights.
I would love to put up a mansion in this place, I silently wished. But to put away the reverie that was building up inside of me, I shifted my attention to the watch on my wrist. It was ten minutes before four o’clock in the afternoon.
Ten minutes more and I will be walking out of this awesome place, giving way to a couple…in the making.
I was startled to see Dylan standing right behind me as I turned my back towards the restaurant. He looked really handsome in his clean cut hair, navy blue polo and dark blue jeans.
“Hey,” I uttered in surprise.
“Hi Ruth,” he flashed his winning smile once again.
“You look…great,” I guess I couldn’t find the right words to say at that time to appreciate him.
“Thanks, you look great as well,” he gave me a look that I never saw before from him. Oh please Dylan, don’t give me that crazy look or I’ll have butterflies in my stomach, “and the whole place looks awesome. I really appreciate every preparation that you’ve made for this event Ruth,” he continued.
I smiled as my eyes scanned everything. Yeah this is way too perfect, too good to be true. If you only knew Dylan, I have designed it as to how I have dreamed this place to be like when the man God destined for me will propose to me as well.
“Oh by the way, could you put this on that round table? I would like her to see exactly the Word that I have received from God about my destiny,” he requested, still with a smile on his face.
“Sure,” I responded as I took the gold plated napkin holder from him. I couldn’t help but wonder at the content of holder so I decided to flip through it before placing it at the center of the table. The front side read:
Ruth 2:11-12- Boaz answered her, “I’ve heard all about you--- heard about the way you treated your mother-in-law after the death of her husband, and how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth and have come to live among a bunch of total strangers. God reward you for what you’ve done—and with a generous bonus besides from God, to whom you’ve come seeking protection under his wings.”
Nonetheless, my eyes almost dropped as I scanned the verses elaborately carved on the other side of the holder.
Genesis 24:62-67—“Isaac was living in the Negev. He had just come back from a visit to Beer Lahai Roi. In the evening he went out into the field; while meditating he looked up and saw camels coming. When Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she got down from her camel and asked the servant, ‘Who is that man out in the field coming toward us? That’s my master. She took the veil and covered herself. After the servant told Isaac the whole story of the trip, Isaac took Rebekah into the tent of his mother Sarah. He married Rebekah and she became his wife and he loved her. So Isaac found comfort after his mother’s death.”
This couldn’t be real…Dylan and I…received the same word!
To keep my composure and to calm my heart which was heavily pounding at that particular moment, I placed the holder neatly on the table and looked at my watch again. It was exactly four o’clock in the afternoon. I went back to where Dylan was standing.
He was now holding a bouquet of fresh red roses and lilies-of-the-valley. Indeed, he was ready for Leila’s emergence any minute from now.
“Are you nervous?” I asked him intently.
“A little, but not too nervous,” he answered.
“Alright…break a leg,” I uttered, giving him a faint smile.
“Thanks,” he smiled.
“I…uh…I’ve got to go inside the restaurant to check on the menu…” I started to walk a few paces from him when he caught my left arm.
“Ruth, wait. You need to stay right here,” he commanded me.
“What?” I looked at him puzzled. Is he crazy? Don’t tell me, I still need to witness his proposal with Leila. Oh my Lord...and I thought I’m just the proposal planner. Why do I need to witness the “most awaited event of my bestfriend’s life for goodness sake?”
“Don’t go, just stay,” he reminded me once again with a serious look in his eyes.
“Wait a minute, you’re making me stay…in your proposal with Leila? Isn’t that way…too awkward for all three of us?” I blurted out.
He gave me a harmonic laugh as I raised my eyebrows in confusion. What is going on here?
“Leila’s not coming anymore,” he gave me a warm smile.
“What?!”
Now this is so confusing. What did he just say? Leila’s not coming?
“Wait, I don’t get it. She’s not coming? So what’s all these for?” I asked in utter dismay.
He gazed at me for about a minute. Then he held my hand and took me towards the pathway I arranged a few minutes ago to the table where the proposal was to be made. He ushered me to sit on supposedly “Leila’s seat”. He gave me the bouquet of flowers he was holding a while ago. I was utterly dumbfounded.
He clapped once as a signal for the musicians to come out. Suddenly, I was surprised to see a familiar redhead holding a microphone.
“Helena!” I exclaimed. What is happening? Why in the world is my boss here as well? Helena smiled, “Hi Ruth, I know this was what your heart desired and prayed for ever since. God has fulfilled it especially for you. So I want to dedicate this song especially for you, and your Boaz,” she announced as her eyes twinkled in delight. The starting tune of Stephen Bishop’s “It Might Be You” caused tears of joy to form from my eyes.
At this point of time, I knew, God fulfilled his promise to me. It was indeed His perfect time and place with the perfect man He has prepared for me.
