This is a dangerous post. I may even end up removing it; but as of 5:38pm on May the 17th 2011, this is what is on my mind (and that is what blogs are for, no?)
Oh, the ever-common question: “Who do you like?” I give my typical response, ::big smile:: “Oh, I like lots of people!” “No, no, no! Who do you like, as in ‘like like’?”
I’ve had this short conversation a few times recently (even once today), as if now that I’m 18 I must be pursuing some sort of relationship. Well, the truth is, I am:
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” “trust in the LORD with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” These Words have taken on a whole new meaning to me as the concept and reality of marriage draws nearer with every passing year. Who could she be, and when will I know? Frankly, I know a lot of really great, God-fearing girls, and a personal attempt to answer these questions could seem rather daunting. However, I know only one God, and He loves me with an unbelievable passion, and He went to Hell and back and worse for me, just so that He could call me son. He did all that and so much more, is there even anyone else who comes close? The answer is no. With that in mind, I have full confidence that learning to love Him, learning to trust Him, learning to follow Him, and learning to let His love shine through me will bring me to a place of readiness and maturity that is required of marriage.
You can never fully love another person if I do not have a passionate love for Christ. How can you have one without the other?
So many guys value the one half of being "ready": having a job, a car, a "plan", and maybe even a decent savings. But to truly be ready, to truly be a man worth marrying, the most important part of maturity is having a loving and strong relationship with Jesus Christ. Becoming "ready" is no small task: Take it seriously, men. It's time to take our "manly" responsibilities and apply some of that "hard work" to building a strong foundation for your future family that will hold strong throughout the worst storms. Don't act like a man, BE a man.
So many guys value the one half of being "ready": having a job, a car, a "plan", and maybe even a decent savings. But to truly be ready, to truly be a man worth marrying, the most important part of maturity is having a loving and strong relationship with Jesus Christ. Becoming "ready" is no small task: Take it seriously, men. It's time to take our "manly" responsibilities and apply some of that "hard work" to building a strong foundation for your future family that will hold strong throughout the worst storms. Don't act like a man, BE a man.
For those of you who might ask, yes, I want to get married. Put simply (but honestly), I am absolutely dying to get married. If I didn’t only have $32 to my name, I might be just a little tempted to run down the streets looking for anybody (I love that part in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers!). But I know that there is a chance I will spend the vast majority of life as a married man, and if that is indeed the case, I want to spend this short time here as an effort to make those years as good as possible. It’s like a small picture of how we should live on earth: We’re only here for a very short time when you consider the immensity of eternity. (assuming that you don’t want to go to Hell,) we can only take on thing with us to Heaven: souls, and the life of faith that it takes to lead them to Christ. Are we willing to spend this moment on earth serving ourselves and saving no one?
Back to what I was saying, I want to be as ready as possible so that when the time comes, I can dial that number or knock on that door with full confidence that I am working within the Will of God. I don’t have to look for her. If you’re traveling, and the person in the seat next to you is reading the map, you don’t have to worry about figuring out how to get there; you just need to follow the directions of your guide and trust that they will bring you to the right place. You can’t just trust God in one thing (read my earlier post Go Bold or Go Home) and say “oh yeah, I’m trusting Him to bring her to me.” You need to live a life of faith, and only then will you be able to confidently hear and understand the Voice of God in regards to His will in any part of your life.
So to answer the “like, like” question, I love Jesus Christ passionately, and am enjoying such a relationship. However, I am still looking forward to the day that I am formally introduced to the girl that I’ll be blessed enough to share in the love of Christ with forever.
Oh, how I love you! "I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth." III John 1:4
ReplyDeleteLove, Mom
p.s. Don't you dare remove this post! ; )
Heeeey, Aubrey *likes* the post. ::laugh::
ReplyDeleteWell. I can honestly say, reading this post, I was having flashbacks of Gleanings 2007; when a "relationship" and a "like-like" was a lot more distant and treated a lot lighter than it is now. (Oh, the memories! ?) Not only that, but I can tell you that none of us knew what we were doing, and all of us were dumber than a screen-door on a submarine.
BUT; I will say, that I have marveled watching everyone grow up, mature, and be a group of G-d-fearing kids that will be great partners in the race we're running.
But for now, our job is to [first, chill out], work on ourselves, and then become a team. Nobody in a three-legged race wants to be tied to sombody with no rhythem. We are to work on ourselves, seek G-d and strive to become mature in the Lord, and THEN He will give us a partner--when were ready.
Great post. Keep running--- and waiting! :)
Aubrey