One of my favorite quotes:
Everyone is given a place. You should be what that place needs. [Wendell Berry]
Everyone is given a place. You should be what that place needs. [Wendell Berry]
I have always heard people talk about "seasons" of life that they were going through, but that term has never really been a term I've applied to my own life.
But right now, at the young age of 26, I am seeing a definite season that my life is in.
I am currently in that married but not a newlywed or new mom stage. We're just married and happy. I have a wonderful husband and right now our future is kind of WIDE OPEN. I don't know where we'll be living a year from now. I don't know if we're going to stay local, move far away, or possibly just a few cities away. I don't know when we'll buy a house (or where we'll buy for that matter). I don't know if I'll be teaching forever. And Kids? Yeah, not ready or sure when we'll have those. I think I am ready sometimes, but then I sleep in till 9:30 on my Saturdays and I can't think of anything that would make me happier.
And as much as I want the "next big thing" to happen in life, I am learning to be content with where I am. Sometimes I have to remind myself of the blessing that is this time in our lives, because it's just that, a blessing. As much as I'd love to be a mom, I also love that my husband and I can go on an impromptu date to one of favorite restaurants on a Friday night for Mediterranean food and wine. And as much as I want to own a home to fix up and decorate and remodel, I am so glad that when it floods under our sink, we can call the landlord and he sends over a plumber and it's taken care of, free of charge to us.
It's amazing to me how the Lord uses these seasons to work in our hearts. While there are things I long for in life, He is teaching me that right now, I am right where I need to be. He is doing great things in my life, even if the future is kind of unclear and I'm anticipating what's about to come. I know that I need to sit back and enjoy this beautiful time that He is giving us and just recognize that this is exactly the place He wants me in.
Rachel...I so needed to read this. You wrote this as like a little reminder just for me (without even knowing it!) Thank you for that!! :)
ReplyDeleteI am at such a similar place right now. Although, my situation is a little different. All of my friends are getting married and having babies. While I have a wonderful boyfriend and am completely content, the whole "When are you getting married?" thing is getting kind of old. It is frustrating, but I'm learning to just be happy where I'm at! Great post!
ReplyDeleteYou took the words right out of my mouth! I have 5 friends that are pregnant...5!! It's so crazy! I feel like this is all that everyone talks about. At times I even felt left out. But, like you said, this is where we're supposed to be. I totally agree!
ReplyDeleteI definitely needed to read this. I have been struggling a lot lately with my own restlessness.... about now knowing what's next and not knowing where to go from here. Sometimes you just need to surrender to Him, right?
ReplyDeleteBut that's really hard. :)
This was a perfect read for me. My situation is different from yours in many ways, but I understand completely where you're coming from.
ReplyDeleteI needed to read this!! I'm in almost the same season as you, except we just bought a house and I wish I could just call someone to fix it! lol!!
ReplyDeleteLove this post. I need reminders to be content where I am instead of always anticipating or waiting for the next thing. Well said.
ReplyDeleteLove this post and your perspective! :-) Enjoy your season!!!
ReplyDeleteI so needed this! Last night Jon and I got in a discussion about all of this stuff and I was feeling down. It's a great reminder to be happy with the "now" and thankful for it. We are always in a hurry to get to the next stop in life, but why not enjoy where we are now?
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! This is totally where I am too. It's nice to hear somebody put into words. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAmen, sweet friend!
ReplyDeleteThank you! My husband and I had a similar conversation last night, we are comfortable where we are right now. We don't need to do the next big thing!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad to hear someone is in the same spot.
...If you live closer to home you can still have Friday night dates because you'll have a FREE babysitter!! :)
ReplyDeleteSo true!!! I think after you get married people always wonder about when you will have kids, but I think it's good to wait.
ReplyDeleteI am the same way, always wondering what is next, and it's nice to finally realize you are exactly where God wants you to be. :)
What a great post! I feel the same way right now. Although, I do have kids. Our next big things though are me finishing school (next May), getting a teaching job and buying a house. I have to remind myself constantly to enjoy this season of my life.
ReplyDeleteWell said! And good timing. Nick and I had a talk just last night about where we are and where we want to be. We also don't own a house or have a baby, but we see those things in our future. Of course, we are genuinely happy and content in the here and now.
ReplyDeleteLoved this - I was thinking along the lines of something similar the other day. For so long everything happened really fast- school, grad school, marriage, moving, job - and now its kind of settled down. There are no big events coming up for a LONG TIME - and I am okay with that because the time I am living in right now is pretty damn good.
ReplyDeleteThis really hit home with me as I'm in my own season of waiting for "the one"!!!! I needed to read this today!
ReplyDeleteI love this quote. This is something I can actually say is a good character trait of mine. I'm pretty OCD about alot of things (like everything but this one thing, ha!), but I've always made sure I enjoyed each stage of life without focusing too much on the next one. It's okay to just be happily married and to not want to think about kids yet. Just like it's okay to be happily dating without marriage just yet or to be happy with one kid and not ready for the second. Sometimes there is no better feeling than to just be content. :)
ReplyDeleteI think having that mindset is the key to living life to the fullest!
ReplyDeleteLove this post- it is all so true. And its good that you are putting this into practice now, because I think its a struggle for the rest of our lives to really enjoy and cherish where we are. With my two kids at the ages they are right now some days things are ROUGH and I find myself wishing he was 3 and she was 1. And then I realize I would miss out on SO MUCH if that wish were to come true.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, with following your tweets and your blog, I'd have to say you do a GREAT job of enjoying your life now before you have kids- sometimes I'm a little jealous of all your sleeping in and relaxing, haha! :)
I think that's great that you're happy with where you are in life! I hate when people feel like they should be doing something just because it's what everyone else is doing.
ReplyDeleteSuch a great post! Learning to be content is one of the hardest things in the world, but I'm a firm believer in everything happens for a reason and we are placed in our spots in life for a purpose! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI can relate to this so much! Even though I am pregnant and that next season of our life is quickly approaching there are still so many things up in the air. I feel like anytime we get settled on one thing another question mark comes and we are in another season. I told Luke the other day I guess this is just life. It seems like we are always talking about where we will want to live one day, what we will want to do with out lives etc etc. But I guess that is what keeps life exciting huh? Just remember you are never alone in these feelings, there are plenty of people who can relate! :-) Miss you!
ReplyDeleteIt's so hard to be in the moment sometimes, isn't it? I just found you through elefantitas alegres, and this post was something I needed to see today! It's so easy to either worry about everything to come or at least daydream about it and anticipate it. There's something to be said for realizing that where you are is where you need to be.
ReplyDeleteokay was just thinking about the comment I left here yesterday and wanted to clarify- I totally did not meant to sound like I think that you sleep in and relax all the time, haha! You are also able to be so dedicated to your job and your hobbies and that is really what I meant- that it seems you truly are embracing your season of life and making the most of these kid-free days! :) Sorry if it sounded bad before!!
ReplyDeleteWow, it's amazing how sometimes you come across people who are actually in the same season as you. This is the topic of the blog post I have been working on for a few days - mine is somewhat focused on the fact that because my husband and I have been married for over a year, we keep getting the "kids" question. It doesn't offend me - but we are just happy being married and together right now. I can't tell you how much I relate to this post. I love how you express yourself - and it's a good lesson, to just feel blessed to live!
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful post. :) It is a hard thing to remember sometimes when you think about what you think you SHOULD be doing at whatever stage of your life you are in. Thanks for the reminder to appreciate the here and now and your life the way it is at this moment.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post - I am in a different season (happily dating, not engaged though) and sometimes look at friends in other seasons and wish I were there, too. But I am learning to be content with each season as it comes. :-)
ReplyDeleteI know I've never commented before, but I just had to after I read this post! I am definitely in a similar place right now. Sometimes I struggle with being truly content with where I am and not thinking about "the next thing" in my life. That only comes from comparing myself with other people my age and I know I need to quit that - it's hard not to play the comparison game sometimes! I know that one day my husband and I will buy a house and have children, but just not now. I could go on and on, but I just wanted to say thank you for this post. It's been a reminder to be content and find joy in the here and now!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! I am in a similar stage in my life and it does seem a little bit like I am spinning my wheels sometimes. I definitely need to be a little more mindful to stop and be thankful for the blessings that I have.
ReplyDeleteI hope that you have a great week! I am glad that you enjoyed your time off work!
This is such a great post. And one that I really needed to read right now. I feel like I have always been waiting for the next best thing--getting into law school, graduating college, getting engaged, getting married, graduating law school, starting my first real job, Z coming home from Iraq, Z getting out of the army...I sometimes feel like I have lost the last few years because I was so busy counting down to what was next that I failed to appreciate what I had then. And like you, we are no longer newlyweds, but I'm not a new mommy and we aren't expecting...and it's just a weird place to be. Apparently, I need a lesson in contentment! :)
ReplyDeletei totally feel you sister!! :) Love this post.
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