Finding an acorn

Austin Gardner • August 6, 2022

This redneck hillbilly had found the love of his life. 

versión en español a continuación


By now, you have learned that I am not real good at protocol. I have counseled many couples over the years, trying to help them do better than I did. I did not seem to know what to do.


I got back to Tennessee. All I could think about was that we were going to get married. I had to work in the fields on the tractor for hours a day sometimes. I would be all alone and far from any other people. 


I would ride the tractor singing, "going to the chapel, and we're gonna get married!" It was a popular secular song at the time. So it wasn't long until I talked to Betty about setting the date. 


Remember, On May 27, 1973, I asked Betty if she would marry me someday. Our first date had been in December. It was now June, and I wanted to talk to her dad. Now I want it to be soon.


After getting our parents' approval, we set a date for August 18, 1973, at 5 pm. Still, there was no engagement ring. Can you believe how backward a hillbilly redneck can be?


Betty had returned to Tennessee to visit. I took her to a pine grove, several acres set aside to grow pine trees for sale. We sat there under the trees and talked. 


Oh boy, now hang on. Betty wore an engagement ring on her right hand. I asked and found out that it was her grandmother's engagement ring. 


I had no idea how to buy a ring and was not even sure I thought of it, but I asked Betty if we could move her grandmother's ring from her right hand to her left. Then we could be formally engaged. I didn't buy her a ring until years after we married. 


I will be grateful till I die that Betty could love me, accept me, and put up with my backward ways till she taught me a little and helped me learn to be somewhat gentlemanly. 


There is a saying in hillbilly that even a blind pig can find an acorn once in a while. This redneck hillbilly had found the love of his life. 


Remember this; God is at work in your life. He will add all these things to you as you seek Him first. 


Look for a girl that doesn’t have high expectations. Some men and women are big spenders, big needers, and high maintenance. You want someone that finds all they need in living in the love you will share for each other. 


If your spouse has many expectations and will be upset if you do not meet them, you are likely headed for some rough waters and maybe shipwreck. You need someone who is satisfied knowing the Lord Jesus and serving Him. 



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





A estas alturas, habrás aprendido que no soy muy bueno en el protocolo. He aconsejado a muchas parejas a lo largo de los años, tratando de ayudarles a hacerlo mejor que yo. No parecía saber qué hacer.


Regresé a Tennessee. Todo lo que podía pensar era que nos íbamos a casar. A veces tenía que trabajar en los campos en el tractor durante horas al día. Estaría solo y lejos de cualquier otra gente.


Me montaba en el tractor cantando: "¡Vamos a la capilla y nos vamos a casar!" Era una canción secular popular en ese momento. Así que no pasó mucho tiempo hasta que hablé con Betty sobre fijar la fecha.


Recuerda, el 27 de mayo de 1973, le pregunté a Betty si algún día se casaría conmigo. Nuestra primera cita había sido en diciembre. Ahora era junio y quería hablar con su papá. Ahora quiero que sea pronto.


Después de recibir la aprobación de nuestros padres, fijamos una fecha para el 18 de agosto de 1973 a las 5:00 p. m. Aún así, no había anillo de compromiso. ¿Puedes creer lo atrasado que puede ser un campesino sureño?


Betty había regresado a Tennessee para visitar. La llevé a un pinar, varios acres reservados para cultivar pinos para la venta. Nos sentamos allí bajo los árboles y hablamos.


Oh chico, ahora aguanta. Betty llevaba un anillo de compromiso en su mano derecha. Le pregunté y descubrí que era el anillo de compromiso de su abuela.


No tenía idea de cómo comprar un anillo y ni siquiera estaba seguro de haberlo pensado, pero le pregunté a Betty si podíamos mover el anillo de su abuela de su mano derecha a su mano izquierda. Entonces podríamos estar formalmente comprometidos. No le compré un anillo hasta años después de casarnos.


Estaré agradecido hasta que me muera de que Betty pudiera amarme, aceptarme y aguantar mis modales atrasados hasta que me enseñó un poco y me ayudó a aprender a ser algo caballeroso.


Hay un dicho en campesino que dice que incluso un cerdo ciego puede encontrar una bellota de vez en cuando. Este campesino sureño había encontrado el amor de su vida.


Recuerda esto; Dios está obrando en tu vida. Él te añadirá todas estas cosas si lo buscas a Él primero.


Busca una chica que no tenga grandes expectativas. Algunos hombres y mujeres son grandes gastadores, que siempre necesitan algo y de alto mantenimiento. Quieres a alguien que encuentre todo lo que necesita viviendo en el amor que compartirán el uno con el otro.



Si su cónyuge tiene muchas expectativas y se molestará si no las cumple, es probable que se esté dirigiendo hacia aguas turbulentas y tal vez hasta el naufragio. Necesitas a alguien que esté satisfecho conociendo al Señor Jesús y sirviéndole.




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