Fifteen years ago I was just getting used to the college life and working up the nerve to ask a guy out that I barely knew but totally liked. Totally.
I think back to my biggest worries during my freshman year of college. Will I make it to my 8 am class? What party to go to on a Friday night? Does this boy like me as much as I like him? And what flannel shirt should I wear? Hey, don’t judge. It was the early 90’s after all.
I like to close my eyes and transport back to those days. But when I open my eyes, instead we are deciding the fate of our family, getting appliances fixed, thankful we have our jobs, and praying for friends and family that are going through rough “grown up” situations in their lives and marriages.
And I just want to say – “It’s Not Fair.” Just let me be a 5 year old for a minute here.
This is a very popular phrase at our house lately and I normally can’t stand to hear it. Anna doesn’t know what fair is. But I guess in her world, it isn’t fair that her friend only brushes his teeth for one minute and she has to do two. What a travesty. I try to rationalize it with her to no avail.
But really there is no point in trying to rationalize those unfair situations is there? Whether it be the length of brushing your teeth or the much more serious situation of losing your job or making a marriage work. There are times when it is probably ok to just throw yourself on the floor and say IT’S NOT FAIR. Because its not. Plain and simple.
I guess it comes with the territory of growing up and as we get older I am realizing it more and more. We will all go through times and seasons that aren't fair. We will struggle with our own problems or how to support those closest to us. We are grown ups and there is no turning back.
We do the best we can with the knowledge and wisdom that was either passed down to us or that we learned along the way. We listen, we talk, we pray, we hug, we try to laugh. And we survive. We get on the other side. The season ends and the new one begins. We thank God for the relationships in our lives that help us get through the metaphorical seasons.
Fifteen years ago today, Chad and I went on our first date together. He picked me up. We went bowling. A meal at Perkins was included and then a rented movie. It was so new that I didn't even know his last name. Responsibilities were minimal. We had our whole lives in front of us. We never imagined on that first date that we would still be together with a five year old daughter and ALL these grown up situations. What a roller coaster ride it has been.
Tonight I think I will just close my eyes again and dream. Dream of those new beginning feelings of being 18 and "in love". Pretend for just a moment that we are young and free again.
And then hopefully wake up rejuvenated, ready for another day and another season. Ready to live the life we have with honor and praise. Ready to walk along side those that need us most. Ready to use the past 15 years to guide the future. Choosing to live with optimism. Choosing to believe that God has a plan for us and every moment we live plays into that plan.
Not that we won't have "It's Not Fair" moments. Because we will. And we will feel low and we won't be sure how to get to the other side. We will question the path we are on. But we can look back and see where we have come from and learn more and more from those experiences. And THAT is the benefit of being a grown up.
I think back to my biggest worries during my freshman year of college. Will I make it to my 8 am class? What party to go to on a Friday night? Does this boy like me as much as I like him? And what flannel shirt should I wear? Hey, don’t judge. It was the early 90’s after all.
I like to close my eyes and transport back to those days. But when I open my eyes, instead we are deciding the fate of our family, getting appliances fixed, thankful we have our jobs, and praying for friends and family that are going through rough “grown up” situations in their lives and marriages.
And I just want to say – “It’s Not Fair.” Just let me be a 5 year old for a minute here.
This is a very popular phrase at our house lately and I normally can’t stand to hear it. Anna doesn’t know what fair is. But I guess in her world, it isn’t fair that her friend only brushes his teeth for one minute and she has to do two. What a travesty. I try to rationalize it with her to no avail.
But really there is no point in trying to rationalize those unfair situations is there? Whether it be the length of brushing your teeth or the much more serious situation of losing your job or making a marriage work. There are times when it is probably ok to just throw yourself on the floor and say IT’S NOT FAIR. Because its not. Plain and simple.
I guess it comes with the territory of growing up and as we get older I am realizing it more and more. We will all go through times and seasons that aren't fair. We will struggle with our own problems or how to support those closest to us. We are grown ups and there is no turning back.
We do the best we can with the knowledge and wisdom that was either passed down to us or that we learned along the way. We listen, we talk, we pray, we hug, we try to laugh. And we survive. We get on the other side. The season ends and the new one begins. We thank God for the relationships in our lives that help us get through the metaphorical seasons.
Fifteen years ago today, Chad and I went on our first date together. He picked me up. We went bowling. A meal at Perkins was included and then a rented movie. It was so new that I didn't even know his last name. Responsibilities were minimal. We had our whole lives in front of us. We never imagined on that first date that we would still be together with a five year old daughter and ALL these grown up situations. What a roller coaster ride it has been.
Tonight I think I will just close my eyes again and dream. Dream of those new beginning feelings of being 18 and "in love". Pretend for just a moment that we are young and free again.
And then hopefully wake up rejuvenated, ready for another day and another season. Ready to live the life we have with honor and praise. Ready to walk along side those that need us most. Ready to use the past 15 years to guide the future. Choosing to live with optimism. Choosing to believe that God has a plan for us and every moment we live plays into that plan.
Not that we won't have "It's Not Fair" moments. Because we will. And we will feel low and we won't be sure how to get to the other side. We will question the path we are on. But we can look back and see where we have come from and learn more and more from those experiences. And THAT is the benefit of being a grown up.
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