Who's chasing who?

Austin Gardner • August 9, 2022

I wonder how much she played me all along

versión en español a continuación


I had played ping pong a couple of times at summer camp. I certainly didn't have many opportunities to play as a child. My dad always said that if I had enough energy for sports, there was plenty of work that I could do.


Now in college, I am hanging out with this beautiful woman. The college had a TV room and a game room. I always wanted to learn to play ping pong, so Betty and I spent many hours playing.


I learned very quickly and got quite good. I could beat Betty regularly, and finally, I would beat her every time. Usually, I won just barely by the two points necessary. She would always tell me how well I played.


Shortly after we were married, we played ping pong again. She improved greatly. She beat me like 21 to 8 or something. She did it game after game.


I finally said wow, you improved quickly. Betty started laughing at me. She said not really. I was letting you win. That is the sweet submissive lady you all think is so good. I know her as a ruthless con artist playing ping pong. 


Remember that we are always together. Playing ping pong, riding horses, going places, it didn't matter. We were together. We were only apart when the college curfew forced her to her room and when we had different classes. 


One evening in the TV room, we were sitting at the back of the room, and I got up the nerve again to tell her I loved her. I was certainly hoping she would not pull the brother love thing again.


That night for the first time, she said she thought she loved me. I knew now that the hillbilly might be making progress with the big city princess. 


Looking back, I wonder how much she played me all along. I thought I was chasing her, but she drew me in for the kill.


I needed someone to pastor and mentor me. I lived with all sorts of insecurities that caused me to misread and misinterpret what was happening around me. It made me not understand even Betty. If you do not get victory in your personal life, your besetting sins will seep out and hurt all those that you love most.


I needed to know that God was at work in Betty’s life just like He was in mine. He was leaning my heart toward Betty while always doing the same in her life. Just wait on Him and watch Him work. Trust God to lead and guide.


Remember that every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father in heaven. The Father of light who never wavers and never changes. God gave me my extraordinary wife, my friend, my lifelong love, and I believe He will do the same for you if you will put Him first.



Get the whole story


Betty, the love of my life

The Call

Hay Day of my Life

"The bro zone!" Like a brother

A Giant Heart

The tractor ride

Never Really Dated!

Shocked & Surprised

Good News

Finding an acorn

Scared my dad!

Send that hillbilly hiking

Who's chasing who?

Betty meets my grandmother

The longest summer ever

Reckless Redneck

Honeymoon

Separated for the first time

We are going to make it




Había jugado ping pong un par de veces en el campamento de verano. Por supuesto no tuve muchas oportunidades de jugar cuando era niño. Mi papá siempre decía que si tenía suficiente energía para los deportes, había mucho trabajo que podía hacer.

Ahora en la universidad, salgo con esta hermosa mujer. La universidad tenía una sala de televisión y una sala de juegos. Siempre quise aprender a jugar ping pong, así que Betty y yo pasamos muchas horas jugando.


Aprendí muy rápido y lo hice bastante bien. Podría vencer a Betty con regularidad y, finalmente, la vencería todas las veces. Por lo general, ganaba apenas por los dos puntos necesarios. Siempre me decía lo bien que jugaba.


Poco después de casarnos, volvimos a jugar ping pong. Ella había mejorado mucho. Me ganó como 21 a 8 o algo así. Lo hizo partido tras partido.


Finalmente dije wow, mejoraste rápidamente. Betty empezó a reírse de mí. Ella dijo que no era así realmente. Te había estado estaba dejando ganar. Esa es la dulce dama sumisa que todos creen que es tan buena. Yo la conozco como una estafadora despiadada que juega ping pong.


Recuerda que siempre estábamos juntos. Jugar ping pong, montar caballo, lleno a lugares, no importaba. Estábamos juntos. Solo estábamos separados cuando el toque de queda de la universidad la obligaba a ir a su habitación y cuando teníamos clases diferentes.


Una noche en la sala de televisión, estábamos sentados al fondo de la sala, y volví a tener valor para decirle que la amaba. Ciertamente esperaba que no volviera a sacar el tema del amor fraternal.


Esa noche por primera vez, ella dijo que pensaba que me amaba. Ahora sabía que el campesino sureño podría estar progresando con la princesa de la gran ciudad.


Mirando hacia atrás, me pregunto ¿cuánto jugo conmigo haciéndose la difícil todo el tiempo? Pensé que yo la estaba conquistando, pero quizás era ella quién me había hechizado.


Necesitaba a alguien que me pastoreara y me guiara. Viví con todo tipo de inseguridades que me hicieron leer mal y malinterpretar lo que sucedía a mi alrededor. Me hizo no entender ni siquiera a Betty. Si no obtienes la victoria en tu vida personal, tus pecados que te acosan se filtrarán y lastimarán a todos aquellos que más amas.


Necesitaba saber que Dios estaba trabajando en la vida de Betty al igual que lo estaba haciendo en la mía. Estaba inclinando mi corazón hacia Betty mientras siempre hacía lo mismo en la vida de ella. Solo espéralo y obsérvalo trabajar. Confía en Dios para que te dirija y guíe.



Recuerda que todo don bueno y perfecto desciende del Padre que está en los cielos. El Padre de la luz que nunca vacila y nunca cambia. Dios me dio a mi extraordinaria esposa, mi amiga, mi amor de toda la vida, y creo que Él hará lo mismo por ti si lo pones a Él primero.



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