Amy & I got a new daughter for Christmas. I know that doesn't surprise you. We've adopted 3 children in the last 3 years (two from China & one from Ethiopia). Obviously, we love orphans & our passion is to help people understand our scriptural mandate to care for orphans. So, to hear that we have another daughter probably doesn't shock you. But, this daughter didn't come through adoption, although we are adopting her as our own. This daughter will come through marriage.
Seth Skyped us tonight to inform us that he is officially engaged. He moved to Bangkok in June because he has a passion to make God famous among the Thai people. Witt Kaminh, who grew up in Thailand, went with Seth, Brett & Susie when they moved & spent about a month in Bangkok helping them get situated & oriented to thier new home. Witt wanted to visit the small church he attended while living in Bangkok & Seth decided to tag along with him to make some new friends in his new country. Obviously, he got more than a friend.
Witt introduced Seth & Taam his first Sunday in Thailand. They immediately connected as friends & began to hang out with each other daily. Taam took over as Seth's new Thai guide after Witt returned to Smyrna. After hanging out for about 6 weeks, they realized they wanted to be more than friends.
This blew them both out of the water because neither was looking for this & it wasn't their intention when they started hanging out. Seth had just moved to a new city & his objective was to get settled & learn the language so he could communicate the gospel. So, this new relationship was a total surprise to him.
I told Seth before he moved away that he was too old to date for fun. He is 24 & his reason for dating is simply to find a wife. Most people wait way too long to get married in today's world. The average age of marriage is 30 for men & 29 for women. It has become common for couples to live together before marriage or at least be very active sexually. As the old saying goes, If you're getting the milk free..." So, the average age of marraige going up isn't neccesarily a good thing.
I told Seth, "Son, you need to be dating to find a wife, not to just have fun. So, if you're dating a young lady & you realize that she's not the one, break it off immediately. Don't waste her time or yours. Dating just for fun is what gets even the most committed people in trouble. On the other hand, when you know she's the one, then be a man & pop the question. Don't be afraid to commit when you know she's the one God created for you."
I've also told my sons that I don't believe in long engagements. Again, waiting a long time to marry the one you know God created just for you gets even the most committed believers in trouble.
Well, it's good to know that Seth listens to his dad. He talked to me after hanging out with Taam for almost two months & dating her for about three months & said he knew it was God's will for him to marry this lady. After asking many questions to both Seth & Taam, there's no doubt in my mind that she indeed the one God created for Him.
Taam is 26 years old & loves Jesus with all her heart. She is so excited about making a lifelong vow, not only to Seth but also to give her life to serving along side him as a missionary for the fame of God.
I'm so proud of Seth & thankful that God placed her in his life at the very moment He ordained before the world began. I look forward to seeing them serve God together & bring many people from all nations into God's Kingdom.
So, we really did get a new daughter for Christmas...