September 16th, 2012
Some gifts from God’s hand are so unimaginable that we are left speechless. I found myself the recipient of such a gift when God brought my beloved husband into my life. Although I have spent my lifetime as a “songstress,” sitting as a scribe to God’s heart, it was incredibly difficult to put into words how much my sweet Chaney meant to me. It took me three years of marriage to finally feel like I could, in some small way, express the love and gratitude that has welled up within my heart for God’s gracious gift of Chaney.
My family and I first met Chaney when we were introduced by a mutual friend. Chaney was a guitar teacher looking for violin lessons, and I was a violin teacher in need of guitar lessons. Upon meeting him, I felt an inexplicable sense that he was meant to be something very special in our lives. He eventually began attending our church and playing with our Sunday worship team. I didn’t realize at the time how much he longed for that worship and the One it honored.
Time spent at church and in music lessons turned to long talks about God and the humble and sometimes oh-so-broken ways in which we try to serve Him and bring Him glory. This became the beautiful discipleship that God used in birthing the new soul of the man who would one day be my husband.
As time passed, my family and the sweet friends who introduced us continued to disciple Chaney. We were thrilled when he trusted Christ as his Savior around Christmastime that first year. God gave him the courage to trust Him and to make choices that would honor his new relationship with Christ. He later publicly professed his trust in God through baptism, a great step of faith for my shy Chaney.
It was difficult to know when God meant for friendship and respect to become something more. As always, though, He is faithful to lead when we’re willing to listen. Chaney and I truly wanted to know His best for us. God allowed a beautiful love to bloom over time – first through discipleship and friendship, and later through a long courtship. We felt God was leading us to the next step in our relationship, and with an incredible sense of peace, we were engaged on August 12th, 2008. Chaney’s beautiful humility and tenderness was revealed as he knelt before me. Instead of the usual “Will you be my wife?” he asked, “Will you let me be your husband?” He has always treated me as if I were the costliest treasure he could ever hope to hold.
I love this man with all my heart.
One of the happiest days of my life came when we were married December 20th, 2008. We shared our first kiss at the altar and have since shared many joys together. We have been blessed by serving God together, working side by side, and raising our precious children. There’s simply no way to fully describe the peace, comfort, healing, and strength that I’ve found through loving my sweet Chaney and the God Who gave him to me.
This song speaks of how this precious gift has been greater than anything I could ever imagine. Such gifts come when God takes all the questions and broken bits of life and wraps them in His love, making something unfathomably beautiful. We might not have known what He had in store for us, but He had a perfect plan even before Chaney and I were born. He meant us for each other and made our souls the perfect companions for one another before we’d even met.
“However, as it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.’” – I Corinthians 2:9 NIV
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28 NIV
This song is given in gratitude to God for His provision, incredible mercy, and perfect wisdom. It is also dedicated in love and devotion to the one for whom I was always meant. Heaven truly sent an angel….
Heaven Sent an Angel
When Heaven sent an angel, when God was reaching down,
When He formed the moonlight in your eyes,
When He first gave the breath of life,
It was then that my soul found union,
Even though we had never met,
For Heaven sent an angel, the one for whom I’m meant.
When Heaven sent an angel, I could have hardly known
In your arms I would find refuge;
In your heart, I would find a home,
And when life gave both joys and sorrows,
You’d be true to the very end…
For Heaven sent an angel, the one for whom I’m meant.
All that’s the best in me is simply a reflection of love,
And I owe much more than I can pay to our Father’s grace above.
I’m in awe of the kindness given,
And my heart is my lasting pledge,
For Heaven sent an angel, the one for whom I’m meant.
For Heaven sent an angel… You’re the one for whom I’m meant.
Written: April 12th, 2012
©2012 Amy Salter Rutherford
