Shannon here: Tanya Eavenson shares insight into her real life romance. Comments on this post will go into the Rose Ross Zediker and Lyn Cote drawings. Deadline: Feb 22nd, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Tanya:
An Unconditional Love Story
By: Tanya Eavenson
Most little girls grow up believing in happily-ever-after and fairy tales of an unconditional love story. But I grew up in a family were divorce was common, with the idea once you “fall out” of love and you can’t get along anymore, it’s time to get a divorce. The proof was watching family members bounce from spouse to spouse. At a young age, I learned to believe love was fleeting. I began to protect myself with walls of preservation no one could penetrate.
Until one day when I visited a church and met a certain guy. It had been years since I’d been to a church, but I felt drawn to go. Soon afterward, the guy and I started dating, and for the first time in my life, I believed in happily-ever-after. I believed it throughout high school and right after college when we married.
But months later, I held divorce papers in my hands. To this day, I recall the emptiness in that moment, the hurt and pain and the reasons why I’d left my husband. Once again, I experienced the same feelings I felt when I was a child–love was fleeting, and happily-ever-after didn’t exist.
But as I picked up the pen from the desk to sign the divorce papers, I never counted on the Holy Spirit urging me to call my husband. We spoke, barely, more like grunted at each other, but on that day we decided to meet, and shortly after, to fight for our marriage.
I didn’t plan to write Unconditional, but a desire took hold to tell a story of a husband and wife lost in their marriage. Though Unconditional isn’t the story my husband and I faced, there were similarities. We were at the brink of divorce and no one could stop it from happening—except for God.
Psalms 103:2-5 says: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits— 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all they diseases; 4 Who redeemeth they life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth they mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Yes, God kept His promises. He forgave our sins, redeemed our marriage, and the life to which He’d called us. But most importantly, God revealed His passion and love for me like no one ever had, will, or could. I was His and He would never be willing to give me up, regardless of the circumstance. And though humanly speaking, there’s no such thing as happily-ever-after, in Christ, I would be happy for all eternity.
On February 17 of this month, my husband and I will be celebrating eighteen years of marriage; the same month a year ago I held Unconditional in my hands. I cried seeing my name scrolled across the backdrop of a woman ever so gently kissing her husband at their wedding. It was surreal. Unconditional was a gift, a reminder of God’s love for me and for my readers. It’s an unconditional love story of a woman, a man, and an amazing God.
About Tanya: Tanya Eavenson enjoys spending time with her husband, and their three children. Her favorite pastime is grabbing a cup of coffee, eating chocolate, and reading a good book. Tanya is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and writes for Christ to the World Ministries. Learn more and connect: Website: http://www.tanyaeavenson.com/, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tanya Eavenson/129609683872033?ref=hl, Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tan_eave.
About the book – Unconditional: About the book: Elizabeth Roberts can’t remember her past, and the present is too painful. When his wife’s coma wiped out the memory of their marriage, Chris Roberts found comfort elsewhere. He can’t erase his betrayal, but with God’s help he’s determined to fight for Elizabeth at any cost.
Unconditional is currently on sale for 99 cents!
Tanya will be back with an excerpt from Unconditional on Feb 21st!
In the meantime, come back Feb 17th for Laura Jackson!
Tanya, I am so glad you and your husband opened your hearts to each other so many years ago. Love and devotion sustain us for a lifetime. Unconditional sounds like a wonderful book and I can’t wait to read it.
mauback55 at gmail dot com
Thank you, Melanie. God is indeed so good! I appreciate your visit!