One Defining Moment
by Becca Parrott
It was a beautiful day outside. The people surrounding us were beginning their hikes, laughing with one another, sipping on a favorite drink. The opposite atmosphere was within Trey’s truck. In one simple moment, I shared my heart and his look will always be etched in my memory.
Trey and I were seriously dating. We were at the stage where you hold hands and close your eyes, dreaming of the future of becoming Mr. and Mrs. We both knew God brought us together. He had the ring (unbeknownst to me), I had the pre-wedding plans – it was meant to be. Then one day it wasn’t a dream for me anymore. I was gripped with fear that this wasn’t the man for me. I even jumped on a plane to fly across the country to California so I could have a face-to-face with my sister about what to do with these sudden, unexpected feelings. With her guidance and God’s nudging I knew I had to share with Trey. But how does one do this? “Babe, I love you but I don’t know if I can spend forever with you? And I’m not sure why…..” As you can imagine, the whole thing made me nauseous. 
I shared with Trey that we needed to talk. He knew it was big because he took us up to Kennesaw Mountain around their hiking trails. A place where we had no shared history together. Then I simply said, “I don’t know if we are supposed to get married. And I can’t give you a good reason why except of this fear.” I look back now and I am not sure if this came from fear of being committed to the same person, my age (I was 20), or another reason. But this is one of the most defining moments of my life. He responded with shock and sadness, but not anger.
We talked more and then he asked if we wanted to go for a hike. He held my hand while we were on that hike. He helped me over a hard spot. He loved me even though I just gave him such an unexpected blow. His response to my words gave me an surpassing peace that this man WAS God’s hand chosen mate for me. As the afternoon wore on, he continued to treat me with grace and patience. We went out to dinner that night and I was able to look at him and say with 100% confidence, “My fear is gone. If you still want me, I am yours.” The peace started within my heart and went all the way to my fingertips!! All of because of how he treated me even though I gave him horrible news. Exactly one week later he proposed; an afternoon he had been planning for months!!
Trey’s response was such a defining moment for me for two reasons. One, how he would personally treat me in our relationship. Secondly, it gave me an illustration, a glimpse, of God’s grace towards us. In that moment, I didn’t deserve Trey’s unconditional kindness. Yet he gave it.
God is even greater and bigger than this. His unconditional love is given freely with no expectations in return. The beginning of 1 John 3:16 shares the greatest defining moment in history: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” Jesus really did walk on this earth and He did so for you, for me, and for every individual that has been and is to come. I am so thankful for how this truth has forever impacted my life. If anyone wants to talk about this gift, I would love to talk with you!
