In Uncategorized

“…Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end”

Author SeraphinePosted on 39 Comments

The last two months of my life have seen a complete transformation. My experiment with on-line dating led to a relationship this summer, and recently, in an unexpected turn of events, my significant other and I got engaged. It’s been a crazy whirlwind, but in a completely wonderful way. And despite my efforts to distance myself from God, I have seen His hand in my life.

About a month and a half ago, “Be Still My Soul” was the opening hymn in Relief Society. At first, the call to “stillness” resonated with me, as I was feeling anxiety about the big decisions I was in the process of figuring out. But as I began to pay closer attention to the words of the hymn, they spoke to me on a deeper level. As I sang about bearing a “cross of grief or pain,” my thoughts turned to my profound despair of the past five years. And I realized that even through the confusion and pain, the Lord has remained faithful. Now He has finally blessed me with “love’s purest joys.”

While I still don’t have answers to all my questions, I am at peace with how things have played out in my life. I needed my previous heartache to teach me some important lessons and to prepare me for my current relationship, and although the path has most definitely been “thorny,” I have reached a “joyful end.” Actually, I’ve reached a joyful beginning.

39 comments

  3. Congratulations, Seraphine! I’m so happy to hear of this.

    Also, I too love “Be Still My Soul,” I think because my soul is typically quite wiggly.

  6. Best wishes for a wonderful and happy future with your new love. I think whirlwind romances are the best!

  7. What a wonderful beautiful surprise to discover today! When you’re ready for wedding plans, I’m your girl!

    The heavens seem to have finally opened back up for me this year too and I am relishing that joy. Sincerest congratulations my friend.

  11. Wonderful news; I am so glad for your happiness. I love it when I can so clearly see that the Lord is on [my] side.

  14. Oh wow, how exciting! That’s wonderful. (And can you ignore my puzzlement on your FB wall, I hadn’t seen this announcement yet.)

  15. It’s always wonderful to know you are loved! Don’t loose who you are, and make sure you don’t let him loose who he is either… big hugs and enjoy the journey!

  18. Congratulations on your engagement. I am glad that you have been able to find peace in your relationship with God.

  21. Yippee!! Congrats, Seraphine.

    Also, for those of you who may be wondering, Seraphine brought him to be vetted by me and ECS, and we approve–he’s a stand-up guy 🙂

  23. Congrats. I am dying for more details. After feeling a part of your beginning to date online I feel invested in this relationship! I wish you the best.

  26. Woo hoo!! Congratulations! I hope that we get some details (i know, I know, I’m incurably nosy!).

    One thing that I’ve really been trying to focus on this summer has been to find joy in the moment, and to not wait for ____ to occur to find happiness in my life. It’s been a wonderful, but very difficult, lesson to learn. Well, I don’t think I’ve really learned it because it’s a constant effort.

    And then, when I have something wonderful happen (like meeting someone online and having a fantastic relationship) I have to regroup my thoughts. The old me wants to see that as evidence that: Yes! God did love me enough after all to bless me with this. I just had to wait long enough to see it. The new me believes that good and bad things happen and will continue to happen, and God is along for the ride with us to help us through it.

    All that long explanation to say that Be Still My Soul has had a lot of meaning this summer for me, too 🙂

    Congrats again!

  27. Congrats, Seraphine! Was wonderful to meet you and your fiance last month. Any guy who can survive an evening with Mormon feminists is all right in my book. You make a wonderful couple, and I’m so happy for you!

  29. Congratulations! It was lovely to meet both of you at Kristine’s, and ECS is right that he passed the “evening with Mormon feminists” test with flying colors. All the best to you and the future Misterphine. 🙂

  30. Now that I know the intended passed the dreaded Kristine/ECS test, I’m even happier for you, Seraphine. That’s a high bar to have to meet. Sounds like you’ve got yourself a keeper.

  32. Wow, Seraphine. Congratulations! I want so much to give you a big hug!

    Now hurry up and post the dish on your beau before I die of curiosity. 😉

  35. I don’t understand how it took me almost a week to notice this post, but I also want to register my congratulations. I’m very happy for you.

  37. I am of course very glad to see you so happy, but you are totally kicked off our Sunstone panel on being single. Also, you’d better finish your series on being a thirtysomething single before the wedding. 😛

  38. Wow, I just learned about your blog today and have been following your stories, starting with your “Being a 30 Something Single in the Church” series. I have been on an emotional roller coaster as I’ve read what you shared, and I’m delighted to come across this post, and hope it leads to many more on the joys of finding love.

    Thank you so much for sharing your pain and happiness with us. There is a whole world of women living in Mormon Singledom and it’s hard. Very hard. I’m always thrilled when I hear stories of people in our situation who still find companionship. We don’t expire at 31, despite what the culture implies.

    Congratulations!

  39. Pingback: Zelophehad’s Daughters | An Update

Comments are closed.