independence

Time has not been wasted.

Time has not been wasted.

Time has not been wasted.

 

Maybe you are like me,

and have found yourself in your upper 20’s or beyond and not married.

And you know what? It’s ok to be ok with it.

 

Do you hope to be married and have a family at some point?

I’m sure you do.

 

But that doesn’t mean your life up until now

hasn’t been purposeful and meaningful.

Because it has.

Your time has still been well spent.

In fact, some of your most favorite things in life may have happened, in part,

as a result of not being committed to someone in your 20’s.

 

Because you were not married,

maybe you had all the time to make lifelong friends in college.

 

Because you were not married, 

maybe you entered a new community as an individual,

rather than someone’s wife.

 

Maybe you learned how to live on your own

and be independent in every way. 

 

Maybe you have had the freedom to meet up with friends at any time

without having to check with someone first.

 

You’ve likely dated and had important relationships,

finding out what you’re really looking for in a husband

and a marriage.

 

Maybe you’ve experienced heartbreak and come out stronger

and with more depth.

 

Maybe you’ve gone on last minute summer trips and weekend road trips.

 

I know you’ve followed passions,

served people around you, 

and made an impact.

 

You’ve spent extra time with family and friends.

 

But maybe most important of all,

you have had time to grow and develop as a person.

As an individual.

 

Of course, some people have been able to fulfill those things

while being married.

 

And absolutely getting married young comes with its own set of blessings,

I am sure.

But I think God knew some of us needed the freedom and the lessons first.

And the person you are now at 27, 28, 29, 30… knows in your heart that younger you

needed more time.

 

And for that, I am thankful for the way God provides and prevents

according to His timeline.

Not ours.

 

It’s not always in the way we want,

but in the way we need.

 

And anytime spent learning,

growing,

serving,

experiencing,

and preparing…

is not time wasted.

 

Posted by Leanne DeKay in Standing Out
Not Everyone Has the Chance

Not Everyone Has the Chance

Not everyone has the chance.

 

My hometown goes big for the 4th of July.

 

There is a community church service and breakfast on Sunday,

cruise night and burgers on the 3rd,

and a full day of events on the 4th.

 

As I took in all of the activities this year,

I thought about how blessed I am to have grown up in small town Nebraska.

And I realized that not everyone has the chance to.

Not everyone gets to grow up in a town like mine.

 

A town of less than 300 people.

 

A town that starts their 4th of July celebration with a community church service.

 

A town where no one is a stranger,

and everyone wants to know how you’ve been

and what you’ve been up to.

A town that is family.

A town that begins the parade with the American flag

and hands over hearts.

 

A town where the volunteer fire department trucks and ambulances

are the pride of the parade and community.

 

A town with big hearts.

 

A town where people pick up turtles along the road

in case a kid is without one for the turtle races.

 

A town where every child receives their prize money

with a smile and a thank you,

whether it is ten dollars or a quarter.

A town that isn’t perfect.

But in the midst of speaker problems or running out of food,

it is a town where the people are patient and kind.

 

A town where, as I refill water coolers,

there is immediately someone there to cut open the case

and another to hold open the cooler lid.

 

A town where everyone pitches in to help,

whatever the need.

A town that cares.

A town that welcomes you in and makes you feel at home,

whether you are from there or not.

 

Not everyone has the chance to grow up in a town like that.

 

A town like mine.

 

But if you did, take a moment to realize what a blessing it is.

 

 

Posted by Leanne DeKay in Life, Relationships