Over two years ago, The Story Houston sent over an army of people to volunteer to muck out our house after we flooded during Hurricane Harvey. From the moment the water entered our home, we knew that our lives were forever changed. At the time, we saw God at work through the people who helped us and lifted us up. But God didn’t want to just use this event to teach us about true gratitude, humbleness, and how inconsequential our material things really are. Oh no. His plans for our entire family were bigger than we ever imagined.

On day two, our volunteers showed up, and I looked around and took notice all of the young men from church that were working so hard in our home. I picked up my phone and called my younger, single sister. “Kaitlin, there are a lot of guys here. They are all from church. I have no idea if any of them are married because they are all wearing gloves, but you are working the wrong shift. Get some mascara on and get over here.”

Kaitlin came over and I introduced her to Matthew and his father. It was a very quick, “Have you met my sister…” Truth is, I was already impressed with him. Not only did they show up for us, he was kind, hard-working, and they seemed like a close family. Plus, I already knew they went to church!

My sister was smitten and with some pretty sweet sleuthing skills, she found him on Facebook. She texted me soon after she sent him that first message thanking him for helping us. “Amanda, you are never going to believe his last name….”

In May, my sister, Kaitlin Johnson, will be marrying Matthew Truelove. I would like to say I can take credit for being an amazing sister and wingman (even in a crisis), but that’s not the whole truth. God was at work in the midst of that storm and every day that followed.

“All glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask for or imagine.” – Ephesians 3:20