After the nth time of being asked subtly and overtly, I played along and acquiesced with a smile. If everyone keeps asking, they must know something that I am yet to know, might as well claim it. *shrug*
While waiting for my meeting, another Pastor on the leadership team, asked me “well what kind of things are you looking for in your mate?”
Of course I have this written down, so I busted out my laptop and opened “the list” for her.
I haven’t revisited the list in a while. I mentally revisited the list over the summer when I learned the Sermon on the Mount lifestyle is what the King is looking for in His Son’s bride. Likewise, I should also possess those characteristics and desire these characteristics in my "life partner" as my grandma commonly calls it, (almost every time she asks me, almost every time she sees me, and subsequently every time she prays for me……God bless the intercessory grandma's!)
Apart from that, I hadn’t really considered my list since the soul mate (woman’s perspective, man’s perspective, wrap-up) blog posts and the subsequent discussions that flowed from those posts about 6 months ago.
Going back to my particular list, which may or may not have been posted, the lists are anonymous ;-) she began to go over it with me. I couldn’t help but to laugh, as we went down the list.
“Christina, does this person exist?.... He does not have to..... Is he a clown!.... What…! Why....? What does this even mean?” [insert chuckles here and there]
Granted, I'm not "married" to this list and wouldn't use it as the end all be all check list, as that would be unreasonable. However, listening to my list being verbally processed by another was humorous.
Some of my characteristics were taken from Godly matrimony's that I have witnessed and a combination of teachings. Undoubtedly, many married couples with the admirable Godly relationships did not have their current relationships, pre-marriage (aka courting or dating) and possibly for some time post-nuptials (aka "the ceremony"). So one should not necessarily expect all the desired characteristics from the get-go.
I realized my previous list, was more so a list of desired characteristics in my husband, after years of growing together, learning and knowing each other.
My list now consists of 4 main things of equal importance:
- Friend
- Faithful
- God-loving
- Prayerful
I have two more preferences but they are certainly not deal breakers.
Given that we do not have a soul mate, that is until we have chosen our life partner, we do have our Sovereign Lord. He knows my whole story from beginning to eternity.
So until that part of my story comes along, I know He knows the desires of my heart. I’ll pray that He would conform my desires, to His desires for me.
And rest assured His will, will be done.
