By Mitchell Shields, Guest Columnist
Once upon a time, a little boy moved from the city to the country, started to a new school and met a little girl. They went to school together through the elementary years, and then in high school she set her eyes on that same little boy. By the time they graduated, he had let her little fingers become embedded in his heart. She never had eyes for another boy.
They became young adults, he went off to college, which didn’t last long, and she worked in the city. He joined the Army, and within three weeks was off to basic training and advanced individual training. For almost six months, they talked occasionally by phone and letters and she waited, never looking for greener pastures.
He completed training and came home on a Friday, and they were married on Saturday, June 21, 1969. Only 14 days later, he left her. The Army had sent him to Vietnam for a year. She waited, talking mostly by letters.
During that year, they saw each other for one week. She waited.
He finally got home and they started a life together.
She followed him to Fort Riley, Kan., didn’t stay there long enough to boil water, and she followed him on to Fort Carson, Colo., to be in a tank company that went to the field a lot. Finally, they started to build a life together in a small three-room apartment, and she waited some more.
Then God blessed them with some great news. God was adding to their family. It is amazing how God adds 1 + 1 and comes up with 3.
Before the addition is completed, she followed him to Fort Rucker Ala. He is going to another Army school, and she is waiting again.
After the addition of a beautiful little girl, she follows him to another assignment in Alabama. God blesses them with another beautiful little girl and 1+1 makes 4. Then they are singing their song, “On the Road Again.” This time she follows him to Fort Shafter in Hawaii.
Now picture this, within about four years this country girl who had not traveled more than 200 miles from home had lived in three different states, had two children but raising three, was about to get on her first airplane. And to add to the excitement, she does not swim. She followed him to Hawaii and did some more waiting.
Three years later, it was time to follow him again. Back to Fort Rucker, Ala., and he was going back to school, but this time as an instructor. Again, God was adding 1+1 and He came up with 5. God blessed them with a beautiful little boy and again she waited.
It seemed like he had two wives, the Army and his beautiful little country flower, but Mrs. Army took priority. She waited some more.
Another move was in the wind, this time to a completely new and very different language and culture, and she followed him to Germany. He went first and waited for his country girl and three blessings to arrive. She had to make this trip by herself. The first six months were hard, but with God’s help, she waited some more.
After three years, another move was coming. This time she followed him back to the United States and Fort Bragg., with a short delay at Fort Rucker, Ala. She waited some more; he was in school again.
After arriving at Fort Bragg, she did a lot of waiting. He was on the go all the time. She had raised the three children almost by herself and had seen to the maturing of her husband.
Through more than 21 years of Army life, this little country girl had been the backbone, the foundation of this family of five. She held things together or put them back together when they came apart. For it seemed that any time he left, something would break or come apart.
His time with his first wife, the Army, was about up. He thought his beautiful little country girl would move to first place. However, something unexpected was taking place. God had a new assignment for these two soldiers.
God called them into His work and again she became his second wife. Those little fingers embedded in his heart had become two hearts combined. And she was still waiting on him.
She followed him two more times, and they finally arrived in the mountains of western North Carolina. With three weddings, the 1 + 1 has become 15. She continues to be the foundation, moral compass, encourager, supporter of that little older city boy. She never complains about being a second wife. She never complains about following or waiting for him.
She has become my queen and will always be the flower of my life. Her name is not “and his wife” – it is Daisy, a beautiful mother, and I love you with all of my heart.
Daisy has exhibited compassion, commitment, creativity and courage to make this marriage work and houses to become a homes. I am truly looking forward to the next 42 years with Daisy, my little country flower.
The writer is a U.S. Army, retired, soldier for life. He was director of missions for the Truett Association for 12-plus years, retiring in 2014. He is pastor at Hanging Dog Baptist Church and a resident of Peachtree.