Looking Up

I read a blog post this morning about not being a "Plan B" type of girl. At first, I didn't think I'd really enjoy it. I thought it was going to be one of those "be happy you're single", "guys are dumb for not picking you first", kind of posts. But I was really wrong. It turned out to be one of the most empowering reads I've had in a while, and I think I happened to stumble across it at just the right time. 

Here's the link to the blog post I read:

(http://ashhkay.wordpress.com/2013/09/24/youre-not-a-plan-b-kind-of-girl/)

Recently, I've had several close friends and acquaintances get engaged, married, or announce that they're having a baby. This stage of life is a little weird. And by weird, I mean unknown, and really foreign feeling. Growing up, you and your friends are all doing the same things at the same time. You know what is coming up next and exactly when it's coming (or even just a rough ball park estimate). You know when high school graduation is, when the ACT is, and even when and where you're going to school or on a mission. 

But then you get out to university, and suddenly everything is different. People are at different stages of life. Some people just got out of high school. Some have been married for 20 years and have kids as old as you. Some people are engaged, some people are newly married, and some people are figuring out how to start a family. 

But if you're like me, and in the majority of people at this stage of life, you're still single and figuring out how to live life on your own. Hey, don't get me wrong--this isn't going to be some sappy post about me complaining why I haven't been married yet. 

In fact, it's just the opposite. 

The other day, I was telling my coworkers about bridal showers, receptions, baby showers, etc, that were happening this summer for several of my friends, and how excited I was for each one of them. One of my coworkers looked at me and said, "With all your friends getting married and having kids, how does that make you feel?" Typed out, that looks like it was a mean statement towards me, but she asked it in a very sincere way. It really made me stop and think for a moment, to which I responded, "You know, it makes me see how happy they are that they waited for the right person to step into their lives. None of them settled for any less than they deserve, and that makes me want to wait until I've found someone that I don't have to settle for. It doesn't make me want to be in a rush to get married--in fact, it makes me want to wait and see who God places in my life for a reason."

During all of this thinking life over and what not, I've realized something really important. Well, several things actually. And it all came to me as I was reading my scriptures this morning. (Mosiah 23-24 in the LDS Book of Mormon)

God is in every detail of our lives. He is timing everything to how we need it, when we need it, and we will be in the places where we'll need it most. He gives us burdens, trials, and times where if we show Him we rely completely on Him, He will bless us tremendously. It's not always in the ways that we think we'll be blessed, but it's always exactly what we need at that specific time. We need to lift our voices in praise to Him, and pray to Him always. One verse that really stuck out to me (Mosiah 24:12) says that God hears us when we voice our prayers, but he really listens to the prayers in our hearts. He listens to both equally, but he feels the sincerity of when we really feel something and pray about it, if that makes sense. God knows what is important to us. He doesn't ignore us. If it feels like He is ignoring you, it may be that the timing is just not right yet. It could also be that He has blessed you in other ways, but you are so focused on receiving a certain blessing that you ignore the rest that He has given you.

Be thankful for everything you have, for it was given to you from God. Every trial, every blessing, every "coincidence" that happens in your life is given to you for a reason. God is shaping you into who you need to become.

And don't complain or be upset that you haven't gotten exactly what you've wished for. My heavens, if I complained that BYU-Idaho shut down Interior Design and went somewhere else to study it, I wouldn't be where I am today. And the life that Heavenly Father has given me from that first trial on my path is even more beautiful that I would have ever imagined. It's much different than I ever would have pictured, but much more what He needs me to do, and what I'm willing to go and do. 

Be the best you that you can be, and things will work out as they need to. 

Live. Love. Laugh. Grow.