Finding Love in Unexpected Places: An Interview with Susie
Photo by Christopher Jolly
In the following interview, Susie (67) talks about meeting her husband at a Walmart in Texas. The way God works, love could happen anywhere! She encourages singles to be open to those quiet, divine whispers guiding them to the right place at the right time.
BTO: How did you and Fred meet?
Susie: We were in our mid20s. I worked for an airline, and he was the pharmacist at the new Walmart north of Dallas. I had just transferred to Texas from Virginia, and I was a customer in the pharmacy. My friend and I went in and we saw him, and I thought he was so cute. My friend said, “That’s one of the best-looking guys I’ve ever seen.” I transferred my prescription to that Walmart, and I kept going back with my friend. I wore my little airline uniform so I could look as cute as possible. It took a while because he was shy, but eventually he asked me out.
BTO: How did you know he was the right person for you? How was it different with him than it was with others?
Susie: I didn’t know at first, but I was really attracted to his maturity. We started going out one night every weekend.
I like a quote from Neil Clark Warren’s book How to Find the Love of Your Life. He says that when you’re in a relationship with someone, the things you have in common are like money in the bank, and the ways you’re different are like debts that you owe. In previous relationships, there were a lot of debts that the other person and I owed, but with Fred, we had so much in common that it was easy for me to be with him. I actually felt safe with him and felt like he was looking out for me, and I had never felt that way before.
BTO: How has relationship with God played a role in your marriage?
Susie: The Bible talks about honor, and over the course of time, Fred and I have learned how to honor each other. This looks like different things in different situations, of course, but I want even my behavior around other men to be honoring to my husband. I don’t want to be flirty with them or to do something else that would potentially dishonor Fred. We’re both very careful about honoring one another because it’s so easy NOT to honor one another. For instance, I could see a hot guy and say, “Whoa!” in front of my husband. That’s a “small” thing that would be so easy to do! But really—how dishonoring that is.
Even if a wife or husband would never do anything about their random attraction to someone else, just speaking that attraction out loud can dishonor their spouse because they’re subtly letting their spouse know that they don’t quite measure up to this new person. Honoring my husband in every way I can is something very important to my heart.
BTO: What advice would you give someone who is afraid they’ll never meet the right person?
Susie: Don’t ever give up—it can happen anywhere! I met my husband at a Walmart, of all places. I had some lonely years, but I know the Lord was working on both of us and preparing us for one another. I was ready to find Fred way before I did, but it was the Lord’s timing—and I just happened to walk into a Walmart one day and see this cute pharmacist. I even remember what I was looking for. It was called clear iodides, and I’d read that it would help weak fingernails become strong. It did not help me at all—but my searching for it still paid off in a big way! And just to show that the Lord has a sense of humor, many years later we also sold our house while at a Walmart.
In addition to not losing hope, I would also say it’s a good idea to give up any preconceived notions about what God will do and what He won’t do regarding finding the one. Be open to anything He might be saying to you. Do you have a strong negative opinion toward online dating, for instance? But what if that’s the way He plans for you to meet your husband? Be open to those little whispers that may be the Lord. I never imagined meeting my husband inside a Walmart—but I’m oh-so-glad I did.
Interested in reading more about dating, relationships, and your walk with God? Here are a few articles on related topics:
For more information on sex, marriage, and finding the person who is right for you, get a copy of Becoming the One by Salomé Roat. Click here to learn more. The book is also available in Spanish.