My New List

Source: wavesrule.tumblr.com via Whitney on Pinterest

So, if you've known me for any length of time then chances are you know that I had "a list." Well, who are we kidding? I have a lot of lists; I am constantly making lists. But one list in particular has always been around and that was my "guy list" and all of the requirements that I had for someone I would potentially date.

Well, I'm a slightly stubborn person and I flat-out refused to compromise on this list. I was not budging. I just thought I knew myself and that I knew exactly what I need out of someone. And that's partially true - there are certain basics that I will never compromise on.

But I had a lot of things on there that barred me from dating certain groups of men. And then something happened: I fell for someone who fulfilled little to none of the requirements on my list. All the careful planning I had done in preparation for me to have feelings for someone else went out the window.

Now, I did not date this individual but through my feelings for him I learned a little more about myself.

See, I believe that everyone we encounter is put into our lives to teach us something and we should teach them something, too. Now I have no idea if I taught him anything, but he for sure taught me two things.

1. It's ok to let go of the little things on the list and that every guy that I have feelings for or date does is not a check mark on a list.

2. Being on fire for God and not compromising in their faith and convictions really is the most important thing to me.

My feelings for this person have faded, but not my gratitude. I have no idea if he's even reading this - I would venture to say no - but if you are - thank you. For knowledge is the greatest gift that someone can give a person and that's what you gave to me.

That brings me to the photo above. I came across it on Pinterest last night and haven't been able to stop thinking about it since. Wendi and I were reading it and you would have thought we were in church we were agreeing so much! Ha!

It was reminding me more of my grandpa with each new line I would read. And you know what? My grandpa and grandma have been happily married for 70 years. So, if that list is like my grandpa and he knows how to make a marriage last then that's what I need to be looking for.

Well that photo?
Is my new list.
Feel free to copy.

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.