Be Where You Are

 Wedding season is among us.  My first wedding of the year was last week.  And it's all snowballing from here.  I am a bridesmaid in three weddings this year alone.  I am going to probably a dozen from now until the fall.  And there will be countless more engagements once we hit the holidays.  It's really easy for me to sit back and throw myself a pity party.  I'm 25, have two degrees and a stable job, have a dog and well-decorated apartment.  To an outsider, all I'm missing is a husband! ...and that's exactly what society thinks.  "Christine, when are you getting married?" "Christine, why aren't you married yet??" Y'all, here it is.  I'm laying it out there for you: It's not God's timing.

One thing I've learned amidst all the engagements last fall is to be where you are.  As I was shopping with my roommate Kathryn (the soon-to-be Mrs. White), I showed her a white lacy dress and suggested she consider it a "going-away" dress for her future wedding.  She was not engaged at the time, so she sighed heavily and replied, "We're not there yet. I'm not engaged. I just want to be where I am."

What??!! That was huge for me.  Here is a girl who is in a serious relationship and has every "right" to daydream about her wedding, and she doesn't!  Us single gals imagine our future weddings when we don't even have the groom and here Kathryn is, guarding her heart.  I took that line, "Be where you are" and applied it to my own life.

Fast forward three months to a time I first really felt this.  I was sitting in Odette's with my friend Sydney on Valentine's Day.  We had just seen a play and had a lovely dinner, just us two gal pals.  We were sitting there gushing about boys and the dates we had been on in the past year.  It just hit me as I was sitting there: I am loving this season of my life.  I love being a single 25-year-old (which by the way, is totally normal anywhere else in the States).  I love having a dog and roommates.  I love being able to stay late at work if I need to and cooking for just me.  I love going to the gym and laying on the couch all night if I want to.  I love meeting random guys and going on dates, even if it's just one. I love spending time with young girls in our community and teaching them the ways of Jesus.  I love hanging out with other women and learning from them.  God has me in this season for a reason and I can see why.  I am learning so much about Him, myself, and how to love others.

Now, this is not to say that the single life is better.  If you got married at 20, good for you!  You were able to find the one who your soul loves so early so you can spend more time with that person! And if you are still single, you have even more time to pour into those around you.  The saying that changed my perspective, "Be where you are" can be applied to anyone's life, no matter what stage.  If you are a young spouse, be where you are.  Enjoy growing up with your husband or wife.  If you are still single, be where you are.  Hang out with friends, go on lots of dates, enjoy being by yourself.  If you are a parent, be where you are.  Don't wish you were single or childless again.  You have the blessing of children!  I've heard this stage goes by fast so enjoy it.  If you are empty-nesters, be where you are.  Don't be sad about the lost days of having children at home.  Enjoy your time with your grown children, grandchildren, and spouse that you've grown old with.

We all pass through many stages in our lifetime, all ordained by our Father God.  And Father knows best.  He has planned with eternity in mind and when you enter each stage, reflect on how that moment is God-ordained.

Be. Where. You. Are.

In Christ,
Christine <><