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Reason 1 – After having two bad marriages and several misjudged boyfriends without consulting God, it
was now time for me to obey God’s teachings. My no sex rule came because of the many bad sex choices I

had made. I can identify with Mary Magdalene in the Bible. I repented. Thank you, Jesus!

Reason 2 – At the time of my courtship, Tajiri was in full operation in my home. I didn’t want any student

to find Carl lying around or see him at an inopportune time. I didn’t want to teach a moral concept and

not follow through myself. I felt certain of this because when I was a child, I had a piano teacher that I saw
involved in some of those unwise courtship behaviors. I never said anything to my parents, but all of the

piano students knew the man was our instructor’s unmarried partner.

After about the fifth or sixth month of our courtship, Carl took me ring shopping one Monday after work. He gave me permission

to choose any ring I wanted within reason, which was fine with me, because his budget was great! Now, for the “BUT GOD”
experience!”

We were to go back for the fitting in a couple of days, and when I tried on the ring, the fit was perfect. My thought was to pray in the
store when I received the ring, but that didn’t happen. In the parking lot, we sat in the car and Carl said, “Before we leave, let’s have

prayer.” Well, that sealed the relationship for me, because I never told Carl I wanted to pray. I never told him my intentions in the
store. Never! I knew without a doubt that God had fully designed this relationship. We just cried and hugged each other and were

thankful that surely God was in the center of the marriage proposal that Carl made to me on June 16, 1993. We enjoyed a seventeen-

year terrific marriage! It was the longest one I had experienced. Thank you, God!

Note: I hope that it’s understood how crucial it is to make sure God plays a major role in your selection of a

help meet (spouse). I praise God for His forgiveness of my sins and for Him giving me another chance to