Words are powerful!

The Bible says, ‘From the fruit of our lips, a man enjoys good things.’ 

(Proverbs 13:2)

 

In this story, you’ll find two young adults who spoke out what God had put on their hearts and would later come to pass. They had no idea, at the time, what the other had spoken, for either were barely acquainted; they just knew of one another.

 

The year was 1976, and Spring was just pushing itself forward in the small coastal town of Gold Beach. Its borders nestled up against the mountains of the Oregon Coast Range, and the mouth of the famous Rogue River opened wide to the mighty Pacific Ocean. In beauty–  this place was truly breathtaking.

 

Garth was 22 and worked at the Mobile gas station. It was located on the north end of town. Across the street sat the legendary ‘Sunset Inn’ with an expanded parking lot that provided a turnaround for all the teen-agers who drove up and down main street daily and into the night for something to do. To this young generation, this driving activity was known as ‘Cruising the Gut.’

 

At 17, ‘Cruising the Gut’ with her best friend Jill, was actually a stabilizing point in Belinda’s day. They’d converse, catch-up, and plan many of their teen-age adventures.

 

One day as these two besties were ‘Cruising the Gut’ and making the turn in the Sunset parking lot to head back down to the south end of town, Belinda’s eyes stopped on Garth across the street, at the Mobile gas station. He was standing next to his best friend, Mike Wells. And without thought, she spoke out these words, “Someday, I will have 2 sons, and I am going to name them after those two.” Once spoken, the words slipped into who knows where and their conversation about their next venture carried on. 

 

In the meantime, and unbeknownst to this young lady, Garth spoke out these words to his friend Mike while watching Belinda and Jill make the turnaround in the parking lot across the street from them. Was it the same day? I don’t know, it could be, but here is what he spoke, “I am going to marry that girl someday.” Mike’s mouth dropped at Garth’s words, and he replied with a serious smirk, “If you keep talking like that my friend, they’re gonna put you in the funny farm.”

 

One year later, on their first date, Garth and Belinda sat across from one another at a beautiful oceanside restaurant, with the light of a candle between them. Unknown to either, those spoken words of the yester-year were kindled, and within three months Garth proposed, she said ‘yes’, and a wedding took place 12 weeks later, where Jill and Mike stood beside them as they vowed to love and cherish one another until God parted them in death.

 

Today, with 47 years of marriage between them, and many chapters of life played out, this now aged-couple can look back and see the reality of the Bible verse, Proverbs 13:2.

Words are powerful–  the good ones, and the bad ones. 

Taste your words before you speak.

 

Love, 

Belinda

P.S. Oh by the way….. they had 2 sons; Garth Dustin & Mike