She Said 'YES"

She said ‘Yes’

The dedication given to romantic idealism during the ‘Proposal’ season is often given an exorbitant value. We know of ‘Proposals that cost a bomb, all justified by the fact of 'a once in a lifetime’ event and to a ‘once in a lifetime, special person’. Check out this video on how a man spend $8000 on his wedding proposal.

1. http://www.razor.tv/site/servlet/segment/main/news/51940.html

 I admire the fact that the guys can indeed blast a bomb of cash to make novel proposals. However, the way I and my fiancée Maria wishes to see the ‘Proposal’ as something worth pleasing to God and not conformed to the delight of the society. Here are some reasons that we went through and we know it was pleasing to God and we wish to thank God for.

The Diamond Journey

Firstly, we thank God for the days she saw me bringing me to every diamond shop to let her try on and see which one she likes or which one is affordable. It was a long process, yet instead of letting it be a surprise, it is uniquely a joy to show her how excited I am whenever I see a diamond shop to bring her in and check out the ring. It may take away the ‘surprise’ element, but it definitely added the ‘love’ element.

A priceless value which costs more than the diamond

Secondly, when we decided on a ring, she was very hesitant to take it even when it was incomparable to what rich people will afford. She knew, I am still a student and not yet a working adult yet. Yet, she was hesitant and she was trying to say ‘ok’ to the ring that cost a lesser price. The only way was for me to make a decision on the better ring cos she never wants to agree on it. She was more concerned for me and not on herself. This was priceless and I thank God for giving me a fiancée who is concerned not about how much she can get from me materially, but how much she can live without it.

The unusual proposal styles, not style

As much as proposal is about the surprise to the special one, we also find it very crucial that this engagement is done in honor of our parents which God taught us. So on the strike of 12am of New Year, I will be doing the proposal again in front of my family and in July 2011, we will do it one more time in front of Maria’s family back in Bandung, Indonesia. We thank God for helping us to honor our parents.

The Unexpected Proposal on my birthday

Unexpected was not only described for Maria, but also for me. Yes, it was an unexpected proposal as I never knew I was going to do it. As much as I wanted to do it formally in front of parents, some of my Christian friends still wanted me to do a society style of popping with romantic dosage. I was hesitant and I was not sure how and when I should do it.

But since it was my birthday, I was thinking how to make it special.

Firstly Maria and I had planned to visit her best friend and her friend to share with them about ‘what God wants in a relationship’. In fact, for my birthday afternoon, I was preparing the message, bible study to share about ‘Relationship according to God’ with them. So we know they were catching Rapunzel and it was Vivocity. So we were supposed to meet them.

From nowhere, and at the last minute, I thought: “why not take the cable car and travel on it as we wait for their movie to end?” Also, I have never travelled in a cable car in my entire life. Forgive me for being a country bumpkin.

In that moments, we didn’t knew that there was special ‘Snow Christmas’ at Mount Faber. Everything around us was so magical (Check out the photos). And then, we went to Jewel Box, the Hilltop Cafe, an Icon of Singapore for a romantic time. All that time, I have not decided much to pop the question. Check out some of the photos.

But even then, I brought her the box that held so much of pain, tears, anguish, disappointment and suffering. Within that box was our past, our letters, things that we had as a couple.

Realising that we were not ready for a Christ-centred relationship, we parted last year December after being in a relationship for 8 months. We decided to part, when we were encouraged with a testimony from the book of ‘Boy Meets Girl’ by Joshua Harris. It described about a relationship that started with the wrong foot and the parents had to come and separate them. In that separation, they put all their items together and then the boy took it back. Tears, pain, and much sadness was hidden with the other items. They realise they have to be right with God first.

Years later, as they mature, they came back and their parents agreed to their relationship. The boy brought her to his garden and then asked her to plant a small plant. After that, as she dug out, she saw the box and therein lies a letter. She opened up and read it and it says ‘Will You Marry Me’.

Likewise in our own relationship, I kept that box but before i hid it, i placed in a card saying  ‘Will You Marry Me’. I knew that if i have to give her back the box, then it will have to be good news. We just don’t know when.

So this day, I brought the red box and as we went through the sorrows of December 2009, that has now joy in Dec 2010, we were reminiscing the moments and going through everything in the box. What she never realised was there was this special card in it which I wrote one year ago. Also, when she had given me the box, one year ago, she also put a letter of faith in that box that we will be reconciled. In that box lied two letters that the other party did not know about.

And thus when she read my letter, it says... “Maria,  ‘Will You Marry Me’. and with that I bowed on my knee and presented the ring and said “Maria, Will you Marry me?”.

The rest was history.

Check out few more photos here in FB
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?cropsuccess&id=1475053595#!/album.php?fbid=1768953951710&id=1475053595&aid=2101480