One day at a time

“looking for a job is like dating”

earlier this month, i posted a blog with the aforementioned title. it occurred to me the other day that many of us trust God with some things, but we don’t trust Him with other things that are very similar. take the job hunting/dating scenario for example. i am willing to put complete faith in my God for something like a job, which is pretty big and can be life-altering. there is absolutely no question in my mind that God will provide work for me at the right time. it may be just as my savings run out, or it may be right away, but it will be in His time, and it will be according to His plan. how is the relationship thing any different? it’s not. why is this idea not more obvious to people (and i include myself in "people")? i have no idea. it seems like such a “duh” thing. i haven’t actually thought of relationships or the possibility of marriage/kids in my future for quite some time now. i have been taking one day at a time, and enjoying each day to its fullest. that is the point. the more we trouble ourselves with the outcome of a future that is completely out of our hands, the more unfulfilled we will feel.

my sis read me one of her friends’ posts the other day. the basic premise of the post was that she was finally happy being single, but she was also preparing herself for the fact that she may never get married, or worse, never have the opportunity to have kids. she’s 28.

i’m certainly not judging: i had some of those same thoughts at 28. but now i almost see that statement as a contradiction. why does it have to be all or nothing - either i’m married now, or i’ll never get married; or i’m “happy” being single, with no prospect of marriage or kids ever, or i’m depressed about the fact that i’m not dating anyone. why can’t i just BE where i am (the “i” mentioned here refers to anyone)?

it occurred to me that this is one of the many things that drive guys nuts about girls. the sexes (genders) have very different outlooks on this point. i’ve never been one to put much stock in that whole biological clock thing, but clearly women are much antsier (is that even a word?) about being married by a certain age than men are. you hardly ever hear a guy say he needs to get married b/c he’s getting old. the standard female excuse: “but for us, it’s impossible to have kids after a certain age”. however, these days there are women well in their forties having children. then there’s the “but I don’t want to be 65 when my kids graduate high school”. well, if you want kids that badly, i’m hoping you’ll be happy to have them no matter what age you are. just a thought.

about 2 years ago, i started taking life one day at a time, without giving much thought to what the future holds for me. this has lifted a giant weight from me. i don’t have to be anything but who i am right now. i just have to be the best paige i can be (the one God wants me to be). and right now, i’m a great aunt (or uncle, depending on whose child it is…that’s another story), and a great “aunt” to my friends’ kids. and i love it!