Alicia wasn’t a huge fan of online dating. In fact, she’d tried it before, only to find herself overwhelmed by endless small talk and awkward first dates that felt more like job interviews. But after taking a break from dating during the summer of 2023, Alicia decided in December to give it one more shot—saying, “It’s the season for magic, you never know”—Alicia had rolled her eyes but reluctantly re-downloaded Hinge one chilly evening in early December.

She was tired of waiting for "the perfect moment," if she was honest, the idea of having someone to talk to during the holiday season didn’t sound too bad. She reviewed the profile that she had set up earlier that year, carefully choosing photos that captured both her passion for music, her faith in Christ, and her love of family. She took a deep breath and hit “publish.”

The notifications were instant. Alicia chatted with several matches, but none of the conversations lasted for more than a day. After going on a date with a different match that ended with the all too familiar "I don't see this going anywhere," Alicia was about ready to give up again. But, she checked her matches one last time, and at the top of the list was Ryan.

His profile was simple, but there was something warm about it. His answers to the prompts were thoughtful, and Alicia felt that they had many things in common including their faith. His pictures were casual but intriguing - most of them featuring his family.

Alicia hesitated for a second, wondering if she should just swipe left as she had done with so many others. But something made her pause. Maybe it was the sincerity in his eyes or the fact that his profile didn’t just scream "casual dating" but instead hinted at a real, down-to-earth person.

She swiped right.

Ryan messaged her within the hour and the conversation never stopped.

The ease of their conversation felt almost too good to be true, but it was also exactly what Alicia had been looking for. There was no awkward small talk, no pressure—just two people genuinely interested in getting to know each other. As the days rolled into the week before Christmas, their messages grew longer and more frequent. They shared stories about their holiday plans, their favorite Christmas songs, and silly traditions they had growing up.

By the time Christmas Eve arrived, Alicia had already looked forward to their conversations each day. Ryan was thoughtful, and funny, and had a way of making her feel at ease. She found herself excited about their future talks—about the possibility of turning this digital connection into something real.

On Christmas Day, Ryan sent a message that made her heart skip a beat:

“Would you like to join me for dinner tomorrow night at 7 at Gloria's?”

Alicia’s fingers hovered over her phone...

“Sure. That sounds great to me,” she typed, smiling at how easy it was to say yes.

When she met Ryan at Gloria's the next evening, he was even more charming in person. They talked and laughed about all kinds of things. After eating enormous amounts of chips and salsa, they left the restaurant and walked together to the parking garage. Alicia was sure Ryan had attempted to hold her hand, but Ryan later denied the attempt. After a sweet hug, they parted ways, but both messaged quickly about how great the evening was and how much they would like to meet again.

And they did meet again, on New Year's Eve, they once again had dinner, followed by coffee, and a quick drive to see some Christmas lights in the area.

And there, surrounded by the glow of Christmas lights, they both realized how much had changed in just a few weeks. What had started as a simple connection on Hinge had turned into something far more meaningful—a promise of something special, just in time for the holidays.

That December, God directed their steps and gave them a chance to find love in the most unexpected of places. And in the days that followed, Alicia and Ryan’s connection only deepened, proving that sometimes, all it takes is a little holiday magic, and God's divine plan, to bring two people together.

Ryan and Alicia have endured many challenges in their relationship - job changes, moving, almost a two-hour distance between them - but, in many ways, these challenges have only brought them closer together and helped them realize that this relationship was something special. After waiting many years to find the person they would spend their life with, it was obvious to both Ryan and Alicia that the other was God's answer to many thousands of prayers that they and others had prayed.

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful."

-Hebrews 10:23

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