By ROMONA WASHINGTON
editor@newssun.com
LAKE PLACID - Growing up, did you ever want to take a peek in your sibling's diary? Or perhaps as an adult, you've wanted to look in someone else's journal.
That's exactly the opportunity that is given those who read "X's and O's on Layaway." It is best described by the authors, Luke and Jamie Knickerbocker, as "a love story written by God" and shared by them.
Simply put, it is a story of their courtship and marriage.
The book starts with a little bit of their background, shares how their relationship grew through friendship, entering into courtship and concluding with the wedding. No different than anyone else's wedding story, you may think.
But it is very different, compared to most stories.
It is a story of commendable and often unheard of determination - the determination to be pure until marriage to the point that they neither kissed nor held hands until they exchanged their wedding vows. In fact, Luke didn't even tell Jamie that he loved her until the day he proposed.
The story is told by both Luke -- who is now the pastor at Bethel Baptist Church in Lake Placid -- and Jamie, each one having their say in a different type and with their photo at the beginning. It is their hope to pass on the benefits of abstinence.
Jamie Womble grew up in Okeechobee. Luke Knickerbocker grew up several miles to the west in Arcadia. Jamie had befriended Luke's sister Katie during youth meetings at other churches in nearby towns, which led to an opportune meeting of the two at Katie's high school graduation in 2003.
Luke was attending college and had no thoughts of having a relationship. Instead, he spent his time studying at Crown College of the Bible in Knoxville, Tenn. He had girlfriends, but knew that he had to keep God at the center of the relationship.
"According to the world's standard, if one relationship doesn't work out, then dump that person and try again with the next attractive one. Then after you have tried several prospects, you choose who is best and marry your favorite pick," he writes.
As he studied the Biblical guidelines on relationships, he began to feel sorry for those who "were playing the 'leap frog' game, going from one broken relationship to another."
It was after Luke's college graduation in the summer of 2005 when he once again met up with Jamie. Unbeknownst to her, he had gotten her cell phone number and initiated contact.
This time, the two began e-mailing back and forth - sometimes it would be two weeks between messages. Jamie had already decided to follow Luke's lead so if there were two weeks between e-mails, she would wait two weeks before replying. E-mails, phone calls and notes were exchanged. They would see each other at church functions or at events where they helped spread the Word.
Jamie was convinced she would some day marry the man who talked to everyone about Jesus. Luke was beginning to have feelings about Jamie, but was careful to guard himself. He talked with his father and with Jamie's father, admitting his feelings for the young girl were growing in a respectfully romantic nature. He asked Jamie's dad if he could begin a courtship.
Together, Jamie and Luke laid down some ground rules for their courtship.
Luke would drop hints about his feelings for Jamie through Scripture, but he didn't come right out and tell her how he felt. Wherever the two went, they were with a crowd or had a chaperone escort them. Rarely were they alone.
It was during a canoe trip in March 2006 that Luke drew a heart in the sand, looked up at Jamie and said "I love you." She was surprised and was even more surprised when Luke bent down on one knee and asked her to marry him.
Until their wedding in July, the two would often write X's and O's on each other's hands, explaining it was their way of putting a kiss or hug on layaway until their wedding. It would be, they said, their gifts to each other for Christmas in July, or their wedding day.
"To exchange the gift of purity at the marriage altar is priceless. We have a solid foundation for a strong marriage," Luke said.
Together, the two urge boys and girls to treat each other with respect. Luke shares that message as a substitute driver for a school bus. The kids, he said, seem interested in his story. "They appreciate being challenged, knowing that there are options," he said.
They stress the importance of being friends with everyone, but being careful who one gives their affection to.
"Dating is a relationship without a commitment. Courtship is entering into a relationship that is going somewhere," Luke said. "Everybody's love story is different. What kind of love story does God have for you."
"X's and O's on Layaway" is available for $10, which covers shipping and handling, and can be obtained by e-mailing knickprint@yahoo.com.
Friday, May 22, 2009 - www.newssun.com/0522-layaway