Jeanette’s Story

Despite the fact that I am about to get married in a few months time,the run up to St. Valentine’s Day still fills me with trepidation because of the powerful message from the media that you must have a partner to be happy. Magazines and newspapers hone in on couples and overtly exclude those who are not in a relationship. In fact, the impression is given that you can only be happy if there is someone special in your life. This is not true and it causes undue pain to those who are not in a relationship; this pain is part of my own story.

Gradually, God taught me that I could know immense love and contentment as a single person. He taught me to feel whole and be myself, and this was an important part of my maturing and becoming ready to encounter the person that he had prepared for me to marry. This meant that over time, before I’d met my fiancé, I learnt to enjoy myself by immersing myself in nature, literature and in good friendships.

I met my fiancé purely by accident and when I wasn’t really looking. In a very short period of time I realised that he was definitely the person that God had sent to be special in my life. Although I had in the past made a wish list in terms of my ideal man, the person God sent was quite the opposite, but I know he is right for me.

In terms of the discernment (decision-making) and prayer about my partner, a lot of this was done unconsciously; I realised that the more that I tried to hold onto my independence, there seemed so much more to gain by sharing my life with another person. It struck me that my independence was worth sacrificing for something better.

Right throughout our relationship I felt led to give thanks to God for the companionship, love and support that had been introduced into my life. When you keep wanting to give thanks for your situation, it is a sign that something is right and God-given.

Prayer is important in this whole process. When you get something that you perceive to be really special, it is very important to protect it with prayers; especially to St. Raphael who is known as ‘God’s healer,’ also when strife can arise. So protect your relationship always with prayer to God and take the problems of the relationship to him every day.

If you’re not with someone at the moment, enjoy life, enjoy your independence and rest assured that God will bring the right person along when the time is right.