Below is a testimony of how the LORD provided a wife for our son in law after the death of our daughter. She died in 1996 of a brain tumor - glioblastoma, was 25 YO, born in 1970. And I was born in 1947...giving you a time reference of our ages and era of time. I am posting it because I am hoping it may bless you as it has us. There is a question on this forum of how to find a spouse and perhaps this story cn inspire someone? This is my prayer/purpose in posting it. This story was written in 1998. All of it is true....I XXXed some names to maintain a degree of anonymity. Finding a Wife for Matthew\t\tI hung up the phone, deep in thought. I had talked with Matt a long time. We did that a lot, since Regina had died. He shared with me what life was like, being a widower with two small children to care for. He also shared with me his failure to find a helpmeet. We discussed many single women, much like men discuss the virtues of vehicles, and none seemed to be suitable. It would take a special lady who would have the ability to love another woman’s children as her own. Many good single women out there but not many suitable. And now He had asked me to make this a matter of prayer for him, especially asking our church to pray for him. He wanted me to publicly ask the brotherhood to pray for a wife for him. Never before had anyone made a prayer request like that in our church.\t\tSunday came and I did as requested. And nobody laughed either. I sensed all knew how terrible it would be for them IF they were suddenly widowed with small children. But pray we did, every Sunday that God would help Matt find another wife.\t\tIt was in May when I went to Indiana with my parents to attend Marion and Heather’s wedding. I was to stay there for two weeks, spending time with the grandchildren after which Rollin would come to get me. While there Carolyn called me, asking me if we could meet for a chat. So it was arranged for her to come to Lynford’s home to visit with me.\tNow why did I know Carolyn? A couple years earlier I was in Indiana helping Matts while Regina was laid up. I met Carolyn at the N. L. M. Church. It was on a Sunday evening, I was bored, didn’t feel like going to church but decided to go anyway because it certainly couldn’t be any worst than what it was staying home.\tJerry H. preached – he was a visiting preacher - and I do not remember anymore on what subject. I saw his wife sitting several benches in front of me. After church she turned around, I looked at her and decided I must talk to her before she leaves. She looked strangely familiar and pretty as well. People talked to her and when it looked as though they were all done, I introduced myself to her, and she reciprocated. When I told her she looks familiar but I did not know why, she said the same about me. Now that is very strange: two strangers meet for the first time and BOTH think the other looks familiar. So we played the xxxxxx game: where have you been, etc. But no, we never were at the same place anywhere at the same time. We were stumped. Then I asked her maiden name, she said Gingerich. Humm, Carolyn XXXXX, Carolyn XXXXX…. What was your dad’s name? John XXXXX, humm, John XXXXXX, Carolyn XXXXX.. “Hey! I know!” I said, “We used to be pen pals when we were little girls!” “Yes! That’s right!” exclaims Carolyn. I had written to the Words of Cheer asking for pen pals and she replied but we lost interest after a while but not before exchanging pictures. And Carolyn still looks like that little ten your old of whom I have still a picture.\tWe now had to make up for lost time and we did not lose any time doing that! The janitor finally had to tell us they would like to lock up and leave, so we went outside to finish our visiting. Since then, we have kept in touch with each other, which will now bring us to the point where Carolyn came to visit with me at Lynford’s house.\tIn the course of visiting we discussed Matt’s situation – he being alone after his wife died and having to raise these children, etc. - I asked her if she knew of anyone who make a good wife for Matt. She thought carefully and then said, “Yes, I know one! She is Loretta Z. she comes to our church, loves other people’s children and they love her. She is single, quiet, she would make a nice wife for him.”\tThat Sunday my Aunt Pauline had invited us to come over for dinner and they lived east of W and Salem Church was near by Eries. I thought it would be a whole lot more convenient to go there to church instead of N L. M, which was thirty miles west of Waky. So I asked Rollin if we could go to Salem Sunday morning instead of N. L. giving the excuse that it is closer to Eries. He agreed. Now the basic motive for me wanting to go there is I wanted to take a look at this girl that Carolyn was taking about. And I did not tell Rollin this because I just felt that him being a man would laugh at me and I did not want to be laughed at! Not this time, anyway.\tWe went there, and we sat with Carolyn in the center of the sanctuary. After services, we turned around and Carolyn pointed Loretta out to me. She was standing back in the corner holding a friends’ child. I looked at her and was absolutely dumbfounded! I said, “she looks like Regina!” She did, she combed her hair like Gina and the color was the same as well. I was impressed with her. And yes, she passed inspection!\tLater that evening I told Matt what I saw and what I knew about Loretta. He said very little, but listened.\t\tSeveral weeks later Matt calls and after some small talk, he asked me about this girl I was talking about; he would like to meet her. I told him he could just call Carolyn and she could tell him all he wanted to know. But no, he didn’t feel comfortable doing that not knowing Carolyn very well. So I asked him if he wanted me to call her and talk to her? Yes, please would you do that? Sure, I’ll do that.\t\tI called Carolyn and told her what Matt asked me to do: he would like to meet this girl. Carolyn just laughed and said they really are not in the match making business but said she would see what they could do.\t\tBefore too long, Carolyn phoned Loretta at work and asked if she could stop by after work that day. Loretta consented, but did wonder what she did that the preacher’s wife wanted to talk to her. When she got there she saw Jerry was home and thought she must have really done something if the preacher himself is there but could not think what on earth that could be.\t\tShe went in, they had small talk and soon came to the point: would she be interested in meeting with a widower with two small children? Loretta was completely taken be surprise and was speechless. Jerry and Carolyn encouraged her to go home, pray about it and see what the Lord would have her do.\t\tLoretta somehow knew who this widower was. Salem Church had given Matt and Regina some things and this situation was well known throughout the community. The description fit perfectly. \t\tIn the meantime Loretta went west, and Matt got antsy. He’d call me and said he still hadn’t heard anything. Finally after about five weeks, he was desperate and said he wants to know one way or another. So at his request, I called Carolyn and told her about this man’s impatience. Carolyn laughed and said she would say something to Loretta.\tA little over a week later, Carolyn called Matt and told him that Loretta was willing to meet with him. Now the shoe was on the other foot. The next move was up to Matt and was he nervous! He went to the phone to call and was half hoping she wouldn’t answer, he was so nervous, asking a lady out who he did not know, a total stranger. But surprise! She answered the phone. She talked and Matt noticed she had a nice voice and he liked that. Arrangements were made for a date that Saturday. He left the children with a baby sitter and went to pick up Loretta at her parent’s house. He knocked on the door and here she was - Loretta Zook - and for a moment, Matt was stunned…he thought he was seeing Gina! It took a moment for him to collect his wits and realize that no, this was NOT Regina, but another women. (I told you so!)\tMatt says Loretta was at first quiet but he kept asking her questions and before too long it was as though they had always known each other. So comfortable were they with each other. It didn’t take Matt long before he proposed marriage and she consented! The children were so happy that now they, too, would have a mommy like other children. Carmen had one time asked her daddy if they couldn’t go to Meijers and just get one. So much did these children want a mommy.God had prepared this woman well in advance to step into this home and be the wife and mother that was needed there. God had impressed upon her mind several years earlier that she would eventually marry a widower with two children. And several years earlier her brother was suddenly killed in an accident. Here was a lady that was familiar with grief, and also was prepared to parent two motherless children. God had done his preparation very well! It was excellent!Matt and Loretta were married within six months of their first date. We are pleased that God provided so well for our grandchildren and their daddy! PTL! ~Sandra Kay Miller
