Dan and Karen

God continues to amaze us with the wonderful people he places on our journey.  We are always excited when he opens a door to meet people.  Back in February 2019, we found Port of the Islands Marina.  It is a gem that we love and have been back to again.  The people are part of the draw for us.  We just love it here.  Sometimes God has an even bigger plan in mind when he brings people together.  Not long after we arrived, Dan and Karen returned back into their slip across the dock from us.  We had been told that we would love them.  When their boat backed in with Story on the back we were immediate intrigued.  The first thing Dan said to us was, "We can't wait to hear your story."  The name of their boat had several meanings for them, but one is they love to hear people's stories.  

As we got to know each other better and hang out, they invited us on a dinghy cruise through the mangroves close to the marina.  As we drifted along sharing stories, we learned about Dan's separation from his children.  This is a deep sadness that he carries, but was willing to share the pain of the divorce from his first marriage and the loss of connection to his children.  He prays that God will reconnect them all one day.  After this Dan asked about our stories.  Dee felt lead  to share details about his recent wounds.  He shared about learning that his father was not his father at the age of 51 and the pain that has caused him.  Learning that others knew but no one trusted him with this knowledge.  We discussed how this was his story and not just his Mom and Dad's to keep from him.  It did feel easy sharing details with what some would assume are still strangers to us.  God was working.  

I can't remember exactly but several days or maybe just the next, Karen knocked on our boat and was crying. She said she needed to speak to Dee.  I started to leave but she told me to stay.  She shared with Dee that she had been feeling God calling her to share a truth with her middle child, a son.  She had separated from her husband and had a relationship with someone else which resulted in a child.  Her and her husband put their marriage back together at the time and he raised the child as his.  She shared that people knew the truth and she was worried about someone telling him.  He was also soon to marry and she felt she needed to tell him before the wedding.  

Dee was able to help her understand how important it would be to tell him his story, but that it might take time for him to receive and work through it all.  Karen was able to help Dee see where his Mom was in not sharing and attempting to protect him.  It was a very healing conversation for them both.

Dee kept up with Karen until she was able to share the truth with her son.  Although it took some time for her son to work through some of this new information, just as Dee it was something he had felt.  Neither was totally shocked by this information.  Karen and her son have a strong relationship today.  Praise God!

Dee was never able to connect with his father even though we found him about 15 miles from where he grew up and lived his life.  His family did not have an open heart and he passed away in 2020.  We know there is a reason God did not allow this although it is hard to understand, but Dee feels blessed to have been able to help Karen through this difficult journey, and that God let him see inside his Mom just a little.  

Dan and Karen will always have a special place in our hearts.  

​