There is a special group of people who haved faithfully walked with me on my healing journey–whose grace, kindness, and wisdom have stood the test of time. My pastor Scott Wendal and his wife Jodie are among those precious friends. I am grateful (and thrilled) that my first guest blog-post is from the pen of my pastor. May we all be blessed as we remember that—
God’s love story for us isn’t just a Hallmark movie—it’s better. He only asks that we hand the pen to Him.
Valentine’s Day is celebrated in our family for several reasons. My wife and I share cards, and she makes the family a special gourmet breakfast because—it is also my birthday.
My favorite Valentine’s celebration was our church’s Valentine Banquet in 1996. We had our highest attendance at that banquet for one simple reason: the church family was going to meet my fiancée Jodie Friesen for the very first time. It was a joyous time in our lives and also for the church as they were meeting someone who was literally the answer to hundreds of prayers. Jodie and I were engaged in January at the Skylon Tower in Niagara Falls, Ontario. But the engagement, the answered prayers, and the joyous celebration with the church were almost NOT to be. Why?
Because of “The Lost Letter.”
A couple of years had passed since I had become a single dad. My first wife passed away from cancer. My sons Matt and Jeremy were only 8 and 4 when their mom entered heaven. Those years had some unique challenges for me. You see, I have DCS (Domestically Challenged Syndrome). Before my wife passed away, my neighbors brought a meal every Monday night. I honestly didn’t know that Lasagna could be made ten different ways – all delicious. After being widowed, the church family graciously brought many meals to us as well.
In addition to running a household as a single dad, being a pastor, and coordinating a massive building program at church, I was struggling with deep loneliness. Not only did I love my first wife, but I loved being married. During those years, many well-intentioned matchmakers attempted to “set up” both Jodie and me with different people. Not one of those introductions seemed to be God’s will for our lives. A church planter from our church met Jodie at Camp YES in Ontario and told her my story. They asked if they could pass on her address to their pastor. Jodie said she would pray about it.
God gave her a perfect peace about passing her information on to me, and in turn, I called her father, Pastor John Friesen, and asked permission if I could write his daughter. It wasn’t until October that I finally sent my first letter to Jodie. To my wonderful surprise, she wrote back. For the next three months, letters flowed consistently back and forth from Pennsylvania to Canada.
During those months of letter writing (pre-email days), the Lord began growing a friendship between us. We shared the activities of our days and thoughts, and yes, our dreams to serve the Lord for the rest of our lives.
It just seemed natural to invite her to come for a visit and for her to invite me for a visit. I suggested two dates for my first trip to see her in Canada – December 18th and December 26th then anxiously awaited her response.
NOTHING!
I was puzzled. You see, when I would send a letter, I would receive a reply in precisely ten days. Not only was international writing slow, but Canada did not have mail service on Saturdays. A little disappointed and a little perplexed, I wrote again – and did not mention any dates. I received a reply, but no mention of visiting Jodie in Canada.
Like every other member of Adam’s fallen race, I too am plagued with jumping to conclusions – false conclusions. I assumed that Jodie’s father was fine with the idea of his oldest daughter writing someone from out of the country, but nothing more than that. After all, of her 46 aunts and uncles and 100+ cousins, no one had moved from their beloved homeland.
I had come to a crossroads regarding my future. On the recommendation of several pastors and missionaries, I had been on several dates, and most of them were out of state. But this time was different. This time I was writing to someone I truly desired to meet, and I think that it will never be. I was sure that Jodie would not go against her father’s wishes (nor would I ask her to do so).
That night I got on my knees and made yet another surrender to God. I prayed something like this: “Dear Lord, you know my heart is growing towards Jodie. I ask that you do what I cannot do to take the next step. But if not—
—if not, I surrender to Your perfect will even if that means remaining single until my boys graduate from high school. I will give up dating and focus on the boys and growing your church.” It was a difficult prayer of surrender because it was “not my will.”
The next day as I pondered my prayer of surrender, I concluded that it would be futile to continue to write Jodie if there was no future for us. But then I wondered what Jodie’s father was really thinking.
“Did he not want his daughter to leave his church and country? Did he not want his daughter to marry someone who had already been married? Did he not want his daughter to become the step-mom of two boys?”
I decided to call him and find out if there was a reason he did not want me to come for a visit. This being pre-cell days, I found their house number through information and made the call. Shortly into the conversation, he asked me, “Do you think God is in this?” My immediate response was, “Absolutely.” He said, “Would you like to come for a visit?” I joyfully responded that I would love to. Then he said, “Would you like to say ‘Hi’ to Jodie?”
Would I like to talk to Jodie?
My heart began to pound as I waited for her to come to the phone. With a bit of a Canadian accent, she said, “Hello, Scott!” We have a wall plaque hanging in our bedroom that reads, “You had me at Hello.”
On December 26th, I made my first trip to Canada, which was followed by a second trip to be engaged. Then came that joyous Valentine’s banquet. That day Jodie met the boys, my parents, our staff, and church family.
On that first trip to Canada, I discovered that my letter had been lost in the mail. Jodie did not receive it until December 18th. She felt so bad that she had not responded to that letter. But somewhere between Pennsylvania and Canada, an angel was dispatched from heaven to hide that letter for two weeks. I call it “The Lost Letter.”
In the Sovereignty of God, I had one more test before the Lord would let me meet Jodie – the test was full surrender. I came to the conclusion that God was more than enough to dispel my loneliness. He was not going to let me take the next step without full surrender to His perfect will.
We all have discovered that the Lord brings into our path many “lost letter” tests. Though these tests are not usually easy, they are exactly what God wants us to go through. The next time you find yourself in the middle of a “lost letter test,” and life is not going the way “you want it to go,” remember that God is in control of your life (Romans 8:28-29). He wants us to seek Him first and be content with Him (Matthew 6:33). As you pray, “not my will, but thine be done,” you can sit back and experience His perfect peace that comes from trusting Him (Isaiah 26:3).
Everything He gives us is grace – and that is always more than enough!
And so, Valentine’s Day is extra special in our family as it reminds us of how He used a quiet miracle of a “lost letter” to bring us together 24 years ago.
This post was written by Pastor Scott Wendal. For more writings and wisdom from Pastor Wendal be sure to visit: http://scottwendal.com/
Trophy of grace!
I so enjoyed reading this letter. I was one of those who witnessed this time of loneliness for my dear pastor. There were many actively praying and trying to find him a wife. I’m so glad that he knew to wait for the Lord’s perfect will and timing! As for God, his way is perfect. I thank the Lord for our dear pastor and his special wife given to us for almost 24 years now! God bless Pastor and Jodie Wendal and their family, Valley Forge Baptist Church family. Happy Valentine’s Day, and Happy Birthday!💕
Yes, Linda, certainly Jodie and Pastor Wendal are a wonderful example of waiting for God’s timing. While you all were praying here, many of us were praying for Jodie in Canada! What a faithful God we have! And Happy Valentine’s Day back at you, my friend!
Tammy Bartsch,
Yes I agree with you Melissa and Scott, Your wonderful story I have shared with my children and young people, of God’s faithful kindness of giving us what we need and waiting for his timing in our lives. Both Jodie,Scott and Melissa have been in my prayers several times in these past years. Praise the Lord you are still blessing others and Loving our wonderful God!