I met her after spending time in the joint on a assault charge, for beating a guy to near death because he had given my 12 year old son drugs.

I should’ve called the law, but coming from the life of drug dealing, I knew this guy would only understand one thing…and I knew I would go to prison.

The first Sunday after I was out I went back to my church; Generation of Hope, where I was met with open arms by regular members that were there when I left, and some that were saved under my teaching in prison and got out before me.

I had noticed her and her four kids in church quite often. I was at someone’s wedding when she walked up looking for something to drink. I was standing outside by the deck and close to the ice chests, and I was telling her what drinks were in what chest when this lady walked up and said, “Oh is this your wife?” “No!”, I exclaimed. “Well would you like her to be?” I didn’t know what to say. It scared Sherry and she ran off with her drinks.

I was operating the book table at our church a couple of Sundays later, when her daughter Nikki came up and said, “Would you like to come to our house?” I said, “You are trying to get me divorced before I’m married.” (I was engaged to someone at the time). Her mom apologized, and I found out that she was engaged too.
A few days later my engagement was called off.

One Saturday, a few weeks later, her and her kids saw me walking down the street, she said, “There’s that guy from church.” It was raining so she stopped and asked if I needed a ride. I told her that I was going to the jail to minister to someone, so she gave me a ride to the jail, she even waited until I came out and gave me a ride home.

We were talking on the way and she found out that I didn’t have a driver's license, so I was not driving. She also learned that I ministered one to two times a week at the jail, so she offered me a ride so I wouldn’t have to walk. I said I would set it up for her to go into the jail, so she wouldn’t have to sit in the car, then she began to minister with me in the jail.

We had began to be pretty good friends, laughing and joking all the time. I was working construction, so we would go have pie or dinner and take the kids skating…but only as friends.

Then one day she stopped returning my calls, and she wasn’t in church, so I walked to the jail again.
One day I was praying to the Lord and I said, “Lord I am really getting tired of being alone, and you told me you had someone for me.

I was just wondering how long and when?"
The Lord asked, “did I not tell you I would bring you someone who would bring you joy and would also help you in the ministry?”

I said, “Yes Lord.” He said, “I have brought you someone who brings you joy and helps you in the ministry and will continue to.” I said, “Lord there is no one helping me in the minisssssst- wait a minute…do you mean Sherry?” “Yes”, replied the Lord. I said, “She can’t be. She won’t even return my calls.” The Lord replied, “Talk to her in church.” I said, “I don’t even know if she’ll be in church, she hasn’t been in a few weeks.” He said, “James, she’ll be in church.” “Yes Lord.”

Sunday I cornered her and she told me to call her later. I did and she began to tell me all the reasons why we should not see each other. She said we are getting too close, so we should not be together alone, and that she was afraid of falling into sin etc. I agreed whole heartedly, and she liked my decision. Then I said, “Do you want to go have pie and coffee?” “When, she asked?". “Ten minutes.”, "I replied". "She said", “Okay.” The rest is history.

Later, Sherry and I got married, and at first I thought I made a big mistake, but the Lord kept reminding me He was the one who brought us together, and let no man break us apart, not even ourselves.

Over the years things have smoothed out, and I know why God put us together. Even though I was saved and a strong believer, I still had not perfected the love walk. You see, as a Christian, we are supposed to love everybody. God loves all people, He hates sin, so it is wrong to dislike any person because of race, sexual preference, beliefs, their sin, what they’ve been charged with, or any other reason.

These things I had a hard time with, on top of that, if someone would smart off or make a threat, the old me would rise up and I would want to fight. She was the only one that I would listen to, and I don’t know why.

So, you see, she is the God given reason that I’m not the same man that I used to be. I can and do love everybody.
Sherry and I will be married 9 years June 11th. She is the best thing that ever happened to me, other than coming to believe in the Lord.

By: James Grimes
4/6/09

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