They say timing is everything and I honestly can believe that – trust me though, I am not always patient. I remember those days where it felt like every gal in the world had a boyfriend and there I was single. I remember laying on a blanket in the hot grass talking to my sweet friend Alissa, wallowing in our singledom and writing a list (yes, a real list) of things we were looking for in our future spouses. Wow, I wouldn’t even want to marry me from the sounds of it. I am sure I still have that list somewhere, but this simple act bonded me and my sweet friend and led us down some paths that were all planned out – all we needed was to patiently wait for God’s timing. Trust me, there were many Starbucks dates talking about who got engaged and how this one girl was getting married… I lived in a house where three out of six ladies were planning weddings, while I still had a year of college to complete. I remember that feeling that I would be single forever and wished all I had was my prince charming and knew how the story would end…
Timing is everything friends, we weren’t born to share the same stories, we were made to write our own. Three years after Drew and I first met we finally started dating…. yes, it took us awhile but our relationship started as a friendship and it took a long time to build up to the point where we could even imagine being anything but friends. Three years after we had been dating we got engaged. Our joke is that our slogan is “three years later.” All good things come to those who wait… boy, did I wait. But it was worth every minute. Looking back, I wish that I would have lived even more in the moment, in the present, not always waiting for the next thing to happen. I only got to be a girlfriend for so long, I was only a fiancee once, and now I am a wife forever.
I get so many emails from ladies who are anxiously awaiting “the” question and who are eagerly planning their wedding just waiting for the moment to become official. I know the feeling, I was there. But let me urge you friends, relax and enjoy the ride. Marriage is a huge step, it’s likely scary, costly, and a big decision – there is no rush. Of course you are eager to hop into a pretty white gown and waltz down the aisle but enjoy each stage, it’s a chapter in your story. It doesn’t hurt to hope and dream in the mean time but enjoy this time, whatever it may be. Don’t wallow over coffee, don’t yearn for what someone else has, don’t write long lists of characteristics your future spouse has to have (that’s terrifying) – just do you! Whenever I meet up with prospective clients I tell them the importance of enjoying each moment leading up to their day. To focus on planning a marriage and not just a wedding and to not get lost in the details. For all of you lovely ladies who are anxiously awaiting “the” question… God’s timing is always perfect. I promise that when the time comes, I will be here waiting for your call.
Oh and in case you are wondering – Alissa got married too! We both stood up in each others weddings and had to share a few smiles and tears, laughing about that day that we met and laid in the grass imagining our perfect men… little did we know that true love isn’t about finding the perfect person, it is loving the imperfect one. Thank God our not-so-patient selves were shown that our plans stink and His is way better.
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
