"The Crazy Way We Met"

As my fiancé and I were driving around one hot summer afternoon, an argument broke out between us. A few blocks before reaching my home, I asked him to just stop the car so I could get out and walk home.

I needed time alone to think things over.

We had been dating for over 5 years, but things were not going very well in our relationship. New yearnings were stirring up deep inside of me. I was feeling that God was calling me to a deeper commitment to Him, and my fiancé was not feeling the same way at all. Earlier that day we had discussed how much time we should be spending in church, and what a total surrender to Jesus would mean in our relationship. I was ready to completely yield everything to the Lord, but that was just too much for him.

Things were beginning to slip away for us, and I was at a crossroad in my life.

“It’s all for Jesus”, I announced as he pulled the car over to the curb. “Will you join me?” There was no response as I stepped out of the car and began a walk home that would change the rest of my life. Climbing up the long winding stairs up to my bedroom, I knew that God was calling me to yield all to Him. This time I was ready to answer and as I knelt by my bed I whispered this simple prayer.

“Dear Jesus, I want to give you all of my life. I want to live completely for you. Lord, I do not know another Christian so would you please send me a friend to walk along side of me and teach me more about you?”

The next morning my alarm clock went off, and I was awakened by what I thought would be my favorite rock station. It just so happened they had a one-hour Christian show on Saturday mornings called “The Rock That Doesn’t Roll”. As I listened, a song came on called Stephanie that caught my attention. I have a sister named Stephanie, and this song was about a girl who needed Jesus. I was so moved, and was thinking how much I would like my sister to hear this song. My hope was that she would also want to give her all to follow Jesus the way I did the night before.

I finished getting ready and headed off to work feeling like things were really beginning to change.

Once I arrived at my job I could not get this song out of my head. I wanted to buy it for my sister to hear. I had never bought a Christian record before; I didn’t know the name of the album or even the artist. All I knew was the name of the song. Undaunted, I started calling all the secular record stores I was used to dealing with. One after another I kept hearing the same thing, “I’m sorry, I’ve never heard of the song you are looking for.” Ready to give up, I called the very last place I could find in the yellow pages, Logo’s Bookstore. I had never heard of it, but they said they carried records in the ad so I decided to give it a try.

A friendly enough voice answered the phone. I said, “I know you probably can’t help me, in fact, I don’t even know what I’m trying to buy. All I know is I’m looking for a song called Stephanie that I heard played on the radio early this morning.”

“Well, I actually do know what you’re looking for. The artist that recorded that song is Bob Ayala, and I just recently saw him in concert. We have that album here, but you will have to hurry because I am getting ready to close the store."

When I arrived at the store I was greeted with a warm welcome and a smile that melted my heart. I will never forget. The young guy was ready to help me in any way he could. After finding the album I came for, he helped me pick out my first bible and an arm full of other goodies.

The Lord answered my prayer from the night before and sent me that friend I had asked for. Two weeks later on July 4th, Rick asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. Little did I know when I called Logo’s Bookstore that the the guy who answered the phone would become my lifelong partner, the best bible teacher, lover, and the father of our five wonderful sons. Yes I truly am thankful that you kept the store open a little late for me that night in June of 1977 Rick Amato! My life has never been the same. I love you. On August 12th will will celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary.

~Bob Ayala and wife~

Just a footnote. Seven years after we were married, I was able to personally meet Bob Ayala and his wife at a Christian rally in Washington, DC. I shared with him how his song Stephanie was used by God to help me meet the guy who would become my husband! He was thrilled to hear that story of how God used his song to bring us together.

Please Join us today over at Chrysalis to read some exciting love stories! Thanks so much for stopping by today♥