Hello dears! I hope
this finds each of you rejoicing in the good news of Jesus Christ! He has come
into this world not to bring condemnation but hope and love. I am thankful to
God for bringing His Son into this world and redeeming us through His death! He
is good and full of mercy!
This
post is a little unusual for Christmas Eve.
It
is about this fear that I have.
I’m afraid that one day, whenever my
Lord wills, I’ll enter into a relationship with a man a rule book. I’m
afraid that if ever Jim-dear comes asking for my heart I’ll hinder the
relationship because…well, we have to follow the latest, most conservative and fool-proof
form of courtship/dating.
I’ll worry about how he will lead us .
. . what if he wants to be different than the regular (albeit boring) Prince
Charming found in the courtship how-to manuals? I’ll fear the disapproval of
others when they find out he doesn’t quite believe in you-name-it. What will they
say when we break the normal, cookie-cutter standards found in the parent
handbook on “How to Get Your Young People Married Without Any Heartbreak and
Physical Contact”?
What if they, whoever the mysterious they are, find out we’re just two unique
individuals seeking God and His will for us?
I
am afraid that my silly, irrational fear of man will never disappear; that I
will never be ready for marriage because I am too concerned over what others
think.
. . .
And
then I see one of my best friends enter into a courtship, a glorious,
outside-the-box courtship. Then they became engaged. It is not by-the-book but it’s
God-led. It’s pure. It’s beautiful. It’s original. It’s a breath of fresh air. It’s joyous.
Watching
their love grow for God and one another encourages me to not be so afraid; has
He not promised to lead? Has He not promised to guide? Will He not give wisdom?
Do I really need to seek the approval of man or only the approval of my loving
Heavenly Papa?
Thinking
on this gives peace, sweet heavenly assurance of His validation and guidance. And
I’m not so afraid.
I
wonder if I am the only one who thinks this way. Do any of you older
sisters have advice for us younger egglets? I sometimes think the incredible resources,
sermons, and how-to books my generation has been raised on not only raises a
high standard (which is wonderful!) but also fear of failure. Some of us want
to be so perfect we miss the point.
We
miss the beauty God places in each unique relationship.
What
do you all think?
Frannie
