Words of wisdom from a mushy old dude

Many years ago, I wrote a list.  It was the things that I wanted in the woman with whom I would share the rest of my life.  I started with the basics; she had to have a head and having a body, while not a deal breaker, would be good as well. 

Actually, it was a lot more serious than that.  I wanted someone with the same values as I (she especially had to be someone who loved God.)  I wanted a woman that I could laugh with but with whom I could also have serious conversations as well.  And I wanted someone who would challenge me to be a better man.  I looked over that list every day and prayed asking God to bring me that woman.

I tried dating for a while and at one point I was actually dating someone solely because I thought being with someone was better than being with no one.  While dating that person I went to a bonfire at a friend’s house.  It was a bunch of people from church and I went with the thought in the back of my mind that wondered if the cute girl that had been coming to church might be there.  She was.  Anyone that knows me knows that I love to be the center of attention and to make people laugh.  So there I was, hamming it up, totally in my element.  At one point I ran and sat on the lap of the cute girl’s mother.  Cute girl smiled and laughed and at that very minute I knew that I was to spend the rest of my life with her.  I went home that night and typed a single sentence in that day’s journal entry, “I’d rather not be with anyone than be with someone that’s not her.” 

12 years ago yesterday I married that cute girl! 

I’m not going to tell you it’s been easy.  Even answers to prayer can be challenging. 

But the greatest thing my wife has taught me is that love is constant.  Anyone that knows me knows that at times I’m “difficult.”  I love to argue, I am extremely opinionated, and I am practically insane with A.D.H.D. 

But in the times when it’s most difficult, my wonderful wife CHOOSES to love me.  She may not always like me, but there is never a doubt in my mind that she loves me.  And as a response, I want to be more worthy of that love.  I want to be the man that she deserves.  The family I grew up in is not very big on mushy stuff.  But as cheesy as it sounds, I am totally the dude that is proud to gush about how blessed I am to have such a wonderful partner in life.  And I want to be the man that she not only loves, but I hope and pray that she likes me!

I can’t believe that I’m going to use the next phrase, but…

All you young people out there, if there is any wisdom that I can pass along to you it’s this:

Relationships are difficult enough; never settle for anything less than the absolute best.  Ask God for who He has and instead of trying to convince yourself, your friends, and even God that a person is “the one.”  Some times it might seem like a long lonely wait, but to paraphrase my own words, it’s better to not be with anyone that to be with someone that’s not the one God has planned for you.

God bless y’all!