He said he wanted to come and see me.  Wanted to spend time with the great family.  That's us.  We're the family of Doris.  And he's the guy who wants to marry her.  But first he has to wait until his brother-in-law gives the go-ahead signal.  It's not really a brother-in-law.  Maybe a half-brother-in-law.  Married his half-sister.  Or maybe he's just the husband of his half-sister.

Whatever we call him, he was dead set against Doris.  Her fault?  She didn't go to his church.  He's a pastor and his relative can only marry one of the girls in his church.  It's his law.  Crazy, but that's the way it is.  So he put a stop to the romance.  Give it up.  Come to church and find a wife there.  

Our counsel and advice was to put the breaks on things, but to spend lots of time in prayer.  And get to know each other better.  Let the relationship develop gradually.  And when the time is right, the half-in-law will come around.  They got hold of some books on preparing for marriage.  Been devouring them. Learning all sorts of things.  Feel so much better prepared than they would have been.  And the relationship is deepening.  

We're all praying and praying and praying.  We know that God can do all things. Guess what?  The half-in-law is opening up to the idea.  Been asking if our girl is really a Christian.  What do you know about her?  Is she serious in her walk with God?  And are you convinced beyond all doubt that she is the one God has for you?

Prayer changes things.  God's timing is perfect.  We watch and wait and pray.  And we trust Him to do all things well.