Jared and Madison: First Love Is Sweetest

          When it comes to love, all men need a little help. Jared Weninger certainly had his fair share of help along the way as he wooed the heart of Madison Rose Childs. The two met while they were attending Belhaven University, but the sparks did not immediately fly. In fact, neither Madison nor Jared can remember their very first conversation, which could have been nothing more than a simple “Hey, how you doing?”
          It was biology that brought them together. As Jared freely admits, the only way he could survive three hour night classes was by completing copious quantities of Sudoku and passing notes to friends (or acquaintances). Fortunately, Jared and Madison sat next to each other in biology class that semester. Never one to be shy, Jared informed Madison that he would be passing her notes during class in order to stay focused. To his surprise, she wrote him back with extraordinary detail, telling him all about herself, her family, and her life. The semester passed, and the class ended. Then, as Jared so eloquently puts it, “I probably didn't talk to her for the whole year after that.”


          No one knows exactly what subconscious thoughts and desires began to form in Jared's heart and mind during that year. What we do know is that their story was definitely not over. In their third year of undergraduate studies, they both became Resident Assistants. Through the training and group activities of the RA staff, their friendship began to grow. Over the summer after their junior year they chatted online a few times, and the wheels in Jared's mind began to slowly turn. Nothing definite yet—but a process of discovery had certainly begun.
          At RA training that fall, Jared found himself sitting at a session with a group of his friends. One of those friends, Andrew, drew Jared's attention to Madison: “That girl is so beautiful. Someone should date her.” With those innocent words, Andrew unwittingly began a process that would lead eventually to a wish and a ring. But what was Madison thinking all this time?


           For Madison, it was Jared's character that first drew her attention. One night, she and a friend needed a ride to Sonic for some late night study food. Jared happily provided them with transportation. When Jared started the car, Madison was pleasantly surprised by the fact that his radio was tuned to a Christian station. As she says, “I know it sounds silly, but who listens to Christian music...for fun? That's when I realized he must be serious, that he might be someone worth getting to know.”
          A big moment came when the two of them walked to a friend's house together. Jared had been invited to a get-together at a friend's house (affectionately known as the “Tootsie Roll”), but he was worried that he might be the only guy present. While they were eating dinner, he mentioned the invitation to Madison, who mentioned rather slyly that she had nothing to do that evening, but didn't want to go back to her room and do nothing. With a response like that, what could he do but ask her to walk with him?
          And so they went. On the way back from the Tootsie Roll, they found themselves walking together again, and as they neared campus Jared realized that he didn't want the walk to end. While he silently debated whether or not to ask Madison to walk longer, she secretly hoped he would do so. At last, his interest won the day, and the two of them walked around the neighborhood for another two hours, talking and laughing and getting to know one another.
           Not long after the Tootsie Roll adventure, Jared followed Madison to Hilton Head for fall break. He even convinced his friends to go with him, neglecting to mention to them that Madison was the only reason he wanted to go. They had a great time during the break, and Jared decided that it was time to tell Madison how he felt about her.
          When they got back to Jackson, he told his closest friends to pray that he would have the courage to approach her. One night passed, and he couldn't do it. He asked her to hang out again the next day, fully intending to tell her...but wimped out again. The third time he asked her to hang out, she almost refused. She prayed, “Lord I can't keep doing this, I'm putting too much of my heart out there!” In the end, however, she decided to give Jared one more chance. That night Jared informed her of his feelings, and after she assured him the she felt the same, he said “I feel like I should hug you now or something.”
           Thankfully, Madison was feeling much the same, so they hugged and began to hang out more intentionally. Neither Jared nor Madison had ever dated before, so every day was a new and exciting chance to learn more about each other.


         They are a light hearted couple who enjoy simple joys like gazing at stars, watching kid's movies, and reading fantasy children's literature together. While watching a movie one day, Jared asked Madison if he could put his arm around her. Madison admits that while it might sound odd, his asking for her permission made her feel more respected. Before Jared left for a lengthy trip to Europe, the couple had a picnic by Ross Barnett Reservoir where they enjoyed their first kiss (after Jared asked permission, of course).
          They spent many late nights at Whataburger while Madison worked hard on her senior dance project, a study of creative movement and creative dance therapy for children with special needs. In order to motivate her to keep working, Jared would often promise to buy her ice cream for every eight pages she completed.
          After graduation in May, the two of them went to Texas to visit her family. Upon arriving, Jared was immediately roped into a construction project at her brother's house. He slaved away from the crack of dawn to help pour cement for a patio. After this grueling (but enjoyable) time, they flew to Florida, where Jared introduced Madison to many of the important people in his life.


           Jared made their one year anniversary a day to remember. After a nice dinner, he presented her with a beautiful necklace, insisting that while it wasn't the piece of jewelry he knew she wanted (an engagement ring), it was the best he could do at the moment. Then, after an ice cream dessert at Biaggi's, he read her a book about their relationship that he had personally crafted. The book ended with the words “I Love You.” This was the first time that Jared had ever told Madison those words, and it nearly took her breath away.
          Thinking that the book had been the highlight of the evening, Madison happily followed Jared out to the fountain at the Renaissance. They threw pennies over their shoulders and made wishes. Madison, as usual, refused to tell Jared her wish (since, of course, then it wouldn't come true). But when she asked him what his wish had been, he dropped to one knee, pulled out a ring, and said “I know my wish is going to come true so I'll tell you...will you marry me?" How could she resist such a charming question?


          Jared and Madison plan to enter into holy matrimony at Northpark Presbyterian in May of 2011. So far, they are enjoying the wedding planning process. Madison insists that she doesn't want the focus to be on the wedding itself, but on the marriage: “I just want it to be a picture of what God has done and what he is doing.” Jared, on the other hand, was just hoping to be able to wear flip-flops to the ceremony. As he says, “Being engaged is cool, but I hear that marriage is even better.” In all seriousness though, both Jared and Madison are dedicated to each other and to God, and their heart for ministry is apparent in their words and actions.
          Looking back, they agree that honest communication has been a huge blessing in their relationship. Due to their reliance on Christ, Jared and Madison are able to be real and open with each other.
          They hope to find meaning in whatever work they do. Building relationships with people is very important to both of them, as their many close friends can agree. Foreign missions is not out of the question, as both Jared and Madison are very interested in serving others. Madison points out that even as a barista at Seattle Drip she is able to impact the lives of her customers in positive ways, a perk of her job that she thoroughly enjoys.
          Their relationship began with notes in class, a careless comment by a friend, and a walk to the Tootsie Roll. Their past is beautiful, their present is joyful, and their future is yet to be discovered.