Two years ago, I was engaged to a bipolar, depressive, controlling & negative man who came from a family with an abusive alcoholic dad, etc. I have long since forgiven him, both in my mind and when I ran into him a year later, to his face, (thank god for forgiveness which releases us from bitterness and sets us free to be happy!) He called off our wedding 6 weeks from the big day, an expensive wedding he had paid for and made me plan.
I worked through the pain and found strength. With the support of my wonderful sister, I quickly realized he had been an abuser and anger addict and I committed myself to loving myself and learning to be positive. I healed more and more over the year, and thankfully I didn’t regret giving back the diamond ring, nor the lovely flowers I chose that would never be used, or the rest of the lovely things I chose and planned and put deposits on with my money (that were not refundable). I didn’t even feel sorry for myself not having the beautiful fairytale wedding and at 36 years old I figured I’d never have one… maybe I would never marry! My one regret was my 11 year old niece would never wear the beautiful rose colored, empire waist, classic, flowing, chiffon dress. It was sleeveless, and was so lovely… my sister had bought it and paid to have it altered… Oddly enough, my one regret was my sweet niece would outgrow the lovely dress I’d chosen for her, and it would never be worn, and I wished she could get some use out of it.
My sister’s husband lost his job a year ago, and they didn’t have much money anymore. My niece is a singer and got passed over for the lead (and was crushed because everyone said she was the best singer in school and she so wanted the lead) but she still got a big role in a fantastic play. On the phone my sister told me “but I need a dress for her and I can’t afford one” I suddenly said, “Hey! Maybe she could wear the bridesmaid dress…” “Oh but she probably couldn’t fit it, you know how much she’s grown in 2 years! She’s so tall now…” “Well she could try it…” Somehow it fit! It had been long… and I guess she slimmed down… I don’t know how it fit. Don’t ask me. You know how fast kids grow… 2 years?! It fit though. And it was beautiful and expensive and they couldn’t have afforded something so stunning and truly lovely at that time, but there it was right in her closet!!!

Oh, my god. People, last night, I went to the play with my WONDERFUL boyfriend who moved in with me last month. (I knew him BEFORE the ex-fiance and he treats me more lovingly and better than any man ever has in my life… but that’s a whole other story).
Anyway, she sang so beautifully (she’s a singer) and I’d never seen her perform like that before! She looked so stunning. She was a mixture of my beautiful sister, me, and my mother how she used to be… her presence was amazing. She stole the show hands down, even in the second lead. Her voice was amazing, she looked so beautiful my heart swelled for my little baby, up there shining and singing and beautiful inside and out. And next to me was a man who loves me so well. And what a use of the dress!
Not worn once to a wedding that would have ended in abuse and divorce! No, worn for several nights of this play, and she wasn’t just on the side of a wedding party! She starred in the dress! And SANG! I’d never seen her perform like that before. She shone and sparkled more beautifully than she ever had in her life! We will always remember seeing her sing in that dress! God bless her.

Wish granted.
Thank you (:
And thank you all for your stories that keep me inspired.