It was back in Fall of 2012 when I first started dating my wife Nicki. She immediately captured my attention and I knew that she was someone I wanted to get to know. She was and still is very attractive and that is great in all, but I saw much more. I saw someone who was so vibrant with life and was definitely fun to be with. We started hanging out at a nearby Starbucks and we immediately hit it off. We seemed to click immediately. It was like she and I were immediate best friends who not only enjoyed being together, but we even knew what the other person was thinking. Even to this day, we have a special gift of knowing what the other is thinking.
The first time we hung out I asked Nicki to tell me her testimony. I wanted to get to know her life story and how she came to know Jesus. We probably talked for hours and our date became more like a day date (which was often the case). As Nicki would tell me her story, I would ask follow up and clarifying questions to help me better understand her. I believe that showing interest in her heart and engaging in the words she was saying helped build the foundation of our relationship. Why? Because, when we are heard and understood, we feel loved and cared for. Walls start to break down and we can become our true selves. This was so true for Nicki and I; I personally had never felt more loved, free, and secure than with Nicki.
I believe that for relationships to be healthy both parties have to be willing to hear and understand each other. It’s when this occurs that a formidable bond is created and a safe space is created for the relationship to grow. Sharing your testimony can be one of the most intimate words to share with someone and can immensely solidify personal relationships. Asking someone to share their testimony can be one of the most selfless things that you can do. People love to talk about their life story and through sharing it, they are seeking to be heard and understood. They are seeking to be loved.
