Hope of a New Morning

I met my sweetheart in 2004—completely out of the blue and far beyond anything I could have imagined. Looking back, the years before that were often lonely, marked by sincere doubts. I wouldn’t say I was lost, but I was certainly discouraged, maybe even a little disillusioned, about relationships and the possibility of meeting someone who would be “just right", or even that I could be somehow "just right" for her.

Thought that I'd be happy
Going to be so happy
Living life alone and never sharing anything

I was content to pursue my dreams, hone my craft, and “work on myself,” so to speak. It was a solitary existence, but one largely within my control—a period of learning to accept my own perceived limitations. A form of acceptance which seemed practical, I guess, but still disappointing.

Thought that I was finished
Thought that I was complete
Thought that I was whole instead of being half of something

It can be so hard to stay positive when we cannot see how everything will work out. It takes faith—faith that God exists and that He is truly working all things for good. Sometimes there are no signs at all, and others around us seem to have it all figured out. Those really are some of the toughest moments, as we all compare ourselves to others.

Thought that God had failed me
Thought my prayers were useless
Thought that He would never give the chance for me to praise Him

In those quiet years, it’s easy to doubt yourself, doubt your prospects, and even doubt God. We can feel burdened by our own expectations, resentful of our limitations, and convinced that life is unfair or random. How can it all change?

Thought my faith was misplaced
Thought my back was broken
Broken by a weight that I was never fit to carry

Somehow, suddenly, life can turn on a dime. What once seemed certain can vanish in an instant, while what once seemed impossible can suddenly come within reach. In these moments, we are reminded of life’s fragile beauty, its unpredictability, and the unexpected grace that meets us when we least expect it—offering the promise of new beginnings.

I thought I knew this city
Thought I knew all about it
And then one night I went to Morningside and you were waiting
I met you, I met you, I met you

The entrance of God into my life transformed every disappointment into joy and reaffirmed His presence in the world. He was never far—He was always near, working all things for good, even when I couldn’t see it. That was the struggle. Yet His power is overwhelming, and by His grace, my life was completely transformed. My wife and I have now been married for 20 years and are blessed with three beautiful daughters. God made it happen—a gift neither of us could have anticipated.

When we chose to open a gift shop celebrating love in our hometown, we decided on the name Morningside. It comes from The Proclaimers’ song “I Met You,” which holds deep personal meaning for us. But we also hope it conveys a sense of hope and new beginnings for everyone. God is real, God is at work in all our lives, and the promise of a new sunrise—a new morning—reminds us that anything is possible.

Morningside is a tribute to a place, a song, and a truth: even in our loneliest seasons, something good may be just around the corner. And when it arrives, we look back—just like in the song—and say with wonder, “I met you.”

"Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning." - Lamentations 3:22-23