The summer wedding season is winding down to a close. Chances are, you have a bridesmaid's dress tucked into the back of your closet, or at least your trusty "nice clothes" that you wore at every weekend shindig are in need of some washing. If I were in the US, this would be me, too. What we do have in common is eyes glazed over from pinterest and facebook pictures, and ears ringing from that age-old question every well-meaning soul from 13 to 83 is bound to ask: so, what about you?
There's a funny and persuasive rumor going around my cohort of 20 and upward college graduated Christian single women; granted, it's a niche market, but I'm allowed to be partial. It's a rumor that swirls dark in the face of a white dress, that pales with envy and shame and then more shame for feeling envious. Here it is, out in the open: you're doing it wrong.
It's a horrible rumor, isn't it? Somehow, it seems the pumpkin coach left without us. We are too stubborn, too busy, too smart, too asymmetrical, too shy. Not short enough, not perfect enough, not compromising enough. Worst of all, the rumor whispers, we are not lovable enough. We're doing it wrong.
Friends, the rumor is a lie. There are people who "do everything wrong" and "do everything right" who get married. There are people "doing everything right" and "doing everything wrong" who stay single, break up, have boyfriends and grandchildren and children...definitely not in that order.
Here's the thing- something I was dearly reminded of a few weeks ago: if you are following Jesus, then you're doing it right.
If you're in the Middle East about to help Iraqi refugees settle in- you're doing it right.
If you're living at home and baking cookies in your sweats just because- you're doing it right.
If you're studying, traveling, doing laundry, dreaming, designing, praying- you're doing it right.
If you're salt and light- you're doing it right.
And if someday you are given someone whose name you can throw out when 'what about you?' gets asked, you're doing it right. And if you have to mumble something sassily spinster instead, you're doing it right, too.
So, wash your nice clothes and dance in your bridesmaid dress, eshet chayil. 'Like' the pictures of shared happiness. Enjoy where you are and what you're doing and who (and Whose) you are.
You're doing it right.
Sidenote: they're not talking about studies, careers, missions, friends or that one time the alley cat coughed up a hairball right outside your door. Nope, they're talking about relationships. This is code for 'do-you-have-a-boyfriend-and-if-so-when-are-you-getting-married-and-if-not...-I'm-not-sure-where-to-take-this-conversation'. Just thought I'd help you out, there.
What about me, indeed.
There's a funny and persuasive rumor going around my cohort of 20 and upward college graduated Christian single women; granted, it's a niche market, but I'm allowed to be partial. It's a rumor that swirls dark in the face of a white dress, that pales with envy and shame and then more shame for feeling envious. Here it is, out in the open: you're doing it wrong.
It's a horrible rumor, isn't it? Somehow, it seems the pumpkin coach left without us. We are too stubborn, too busy, too smart, too asymmetrical, too shy. Not short enough, not perfect enough, not compromising enough. Worst of all, the rumor whispers, we are not lovable enough. We're doing it wrong.
Friends, the rumor is a lie. There are people who "do everything wrong" and "do everything right" who get married. There are people "doing everything right" and "doing everything wrong" who stay single, break up, have boyfriends and grandchildren and children...definitely not in that order.
Here's the thing- something I was dearly reminded of a few weeks ago: if you are following Jesus, then you're doing it right.
If you're in the Middle East about to help Iraqi refugees settle in- you're doing it right.
If you're living at home and baking cookies in your sweats just because- you're doing it right.
If you're studying, traveling, doing laundry, dreaming, designing, praying- you're doing it right.
If you're salt and light- you're doing it right.
And if someday you are given someone whose name you can throw out when 'what about you?' gets asked, you're doing it right. And if you have to mumble something sassily spinster instead, you're doing it right, too.
So, wash your nice clothes and dance in your bridesmaid dress, eshet chayil. 'Like' the pictures of shared happiness. Enjoy where you are and what you're doing and who (and Whose) you are.
You're doing it right.
This...this is awesome.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kelsy! =)
DeleteLove this!
ReplyDelete