Years Gone By

It is hard to believe that 20 years have passed since I escaped graduated high school.  Many study halls & algebra classes were spent daydreaming about what my life would look like as “an adult”.  A beautiful house with a white picket fence, a handful of impeccably dressed and well-behaved children frolicking on the lush green grass while my hot handsome husband brings  me a glass of lemonade while I blissfully lounge on the hammock during a warm spring day {ignoring the mound of laundry and dinner burning in the oven}.  

Ahh…this is the life!

Okay, so maybe not reality, but it was a daydream!  Most teen girls envision themselves married with a family, or at least I did.  I certainly did not picture my life single and living on my own.  Each of these pictures can be electrifyingly freeing or devastatingly hindering.  Neither one is picture perfect.  Neither one is better than the other one. 

As I look at my present reality, I am humbled and blessed.  My path has had many turns, peaks and valleys.  My path was not always straight, as some off-road detours captured my curiosity.  My path has brought me joy through many accomplishments and trips I never dreamed possible.  My path has allowed me to try several different careers to see what fit best.  My path has held a variety of people, many who are forever etched on my heart.  Your path may have brought different outcomes.  It is safe to say, none of us are the same person we were in high school.  How have you embraced your current reality?  In high school my reality was a fight to be “liked” and be “in”, I am not sure I ever fully made it, but oh did I try {insert big hair crisis}!  My reality was wrapped up in being the rebel, the goodie-goodie, the class clown, the flirt, the dependable one, the prankster…whomever I could be to feel, something.  I morphed into whomever I was with and along the way never allowed myself to discover who I was really meant to be.  Over the years as I have grown in my relationship with God.  He has helped me to discover who I am and to engage the reality He has provided. 

So, as I reflect on the daydreams of a teenager, I am grateful they were not fulfilled how I envisioned.  {for the record, I am not saying that being a wife and mom are not good, they are amazing if that is who God called you to be, these are not roles God has called me to…as of yet.}  There have been times when I still think that getting married would somehow take care of my problems.  I know how faulty this thought is, but “the grass is always greener” thought comes to mind.  If my dependence is not on GOD alone, there is no role that will ever “solve everything”.  One day He may change my role and provide a spouse and a houseful of children, but until then, I get to relish in singleness and the variety of roles He has provided. 

• A daughter to a wonderful set of godly parents
• A sister to some amazing sisters and brother (and brothers-in-law)
• An aunt to some pretty great nieces and nephews
• A sister-in-Christ to a wonderful church family
• A friend who has some wonderful friends who challenge, support, encourage and sustain me
• An employee in a job which brings new levels of challenge, growth and encouragement who works alongside some pretty great co-workers (yes, even you Bob)
• A leader for feisty, lively, animated and teachable toddlers
• Most importantly, a daughter of the Most High King

Are you relishing in the role God has provided?