The Human Race

You know what I want to know?!

Why is it called "the human race"?

According to Yahoo! Answers, it is referred to as a "race" to identify a group or variety.

But do you ever start to feel like life is one big competition to the finish line? You have to be first at everything? You have to be the one who sets the pace for the rest of your friends?

I would be lying(a fat lie at that) if I said that I hadn't felt this way for most of my life.

As we were growing up we were ranked based on academics(honor roll, valedictorian, honor's society), social standing(student government, joining extracurricular clubs) and athletics(cheerleading captain, quarterback of the football team).

As we continued into college, how could this mentality not continue?(Sororities/fraternities, etc)

And now, as we establish our adult lives it's all about who is getting engaged, married and having children first. Or last, as it may be.

I have felt the pressure big time mostly because all of my friends from middle school/high school (with the exception of a precious one of them) are engaged, married, have children, or some combination of the three. So that means, in the "race of life" I've come in dead last.

And don't think I haven't beat myself up about it. Every milestone, family function, every holiday, every birthday that goes by I'm somehow reminded that at the end of the day I'm not going to be saying goodnight to a husband or making sure children have tomorrow's lunch made, that they've brushed their teeth and have been read that one last story.

My grandparents just celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary(bless their hearts) and at the dinner cruise we had for them I was asked 6 times where my date was. SIX TIMES.

But here's the deal, and it's something I've recently realized: the human race isn't a competition. It's not a mad dash to the proverbial "finish line" because, to come in first, all we need to do is follow God's plan for our lives and honor Him in all we do.

For some, that's marriage and children. For others, it happens to be a ton of college degrees, jet-setting and a corner office. For most, it's just an ordinary life that to most might seem mundane.

Ultimately, though it's simply the quiet thanks at the end of the day because, when the sun goes down and we've "unlaced our racing shoes", it's just us and Him.

So, I don't need to be married to "win" in life. Would I like to be? You bet your butt I would. But do y'all know that God has us wherever we are because that's the exact place we can bring Him the most glory? And I don't know about y'all, but bringing God glory is pretty high up on my to-do list right now. So right now I don't kiss anyone goodnight; I don't read anyone bedtime stories and I don't go flying half-way across the word to close a business deal. But I still get to honor Him and if I don't realize that then I'm wasting my opportunities.

So, I'm single and while that might make me last in the human race, in the race to glorify God(and just warning you, it's longer than a half-marathon)I'm just where I need to be.

Left-Handed Fears

I made a left-hand turn last night.

That might not seem like a big deal, but to me? It is.

Back story:

I hate driving. I was never the teenager that was excited about driving. I wanted my driver's license for the "independence" of it all, but after I figured out what was up I hated it.

So fast forward to present day. Not only do I still hate driving but I have a deep, irrational fear of making left-hand turns. I'm talking I will go out of my way to not have to make a left-hand turn; and that's saying something for this efficiency expert.

Tonight leaving the Walgreen's(seriously. Redbox? Best. Invention. Ever) I was about to do my whole "drive fifteen minutes out of the way to avoid a left-hand turn" routine when I stopped. Dead in the parking lot I stopped. Because a verse came to my mind:

For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7

Why can't I make a left-hand turn?
Because I won't do it; because I'm scared.

Why don't we get half the things we want in life?
Because we won't go for them; because we're scared.

Now, I'm a pretty bold person. If you've ever met me you know there's not a lot that I back down from. There's just not. But there have been a lot of things that I've missed out on in my life because of fear. Fear I will get hurt, fear I will hurt someone else, fear of the unknown......we all have fears. And don't tell me you're not afraid of something because I will laugh at you and then make you my project until I figure out what you're afraid of.

But we all know who fear comes from and it isn't heavenly.

It's Satan not wanting to see a good work completed in us.

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6

Now, I know I'll always struggle with fear; it's human nature. And I know that I'll always have those slightly irrational fears(roaches - I'm talking to you), but I think that reminding myself that it's all a part of His plan will help me to face my fears head on.

Even left-hand turns.

About Me

I'm Whitney.

I'm a child of God and I know that it is by His grace that I get to be alive today.

I love my family and friends.

I've been called a walking contradiction.

I can't imagine this world without Diet Coke,Chick-Fil-A or Starbucks' peppermint hot chocolate. (I seriously shudder at the thought.)

I absolutely love planning events, shopping, laughing, office supplies, singing at the top of my lungs, pugs, holidays, live music, thunderstorms, my momma's hugs, movies, snow, reading and rearranging furniture. (Just to name a few things!)

I'm outspoken and opinionated. (But I'm fun, I swear!)

From the time I was a little girl, all I've wanted was to be a wife and mother.

I'm not currently either of those things.

I still hold true to the promises He gives us, though:

Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.
(Psalm 34:4 - 5)

I spent a good part of my adult life not being happy about where I was because I spent so much time concentrating on where I wasn't. (Not healthy, y'all.)

I'm so thankful that it's not my timing we're working with, though. I've learned to trust His perfect plan and until then I'm "Doing My Life".

Feel free to follow along!