Cheap Romance

My precious Mama always taught me to control my angers and frustration before speaking, yet I could never slow my roll when it came to writing. So here I am... taking the time to not only make a blog, but devote the time and energy to writing it all down. I've always thought my words weren't important enough to publicize to the world, and to a limit, I agree with that. I don't plan on spilling every one of my heart's desires, or venting about worthless things that exhaust my energy- that's what a diary is for, silly goose. In a world that hardly gives a glance to privacy, we've thrown off any hindrance of keeping things precious, such as our thoughts. But... I do believe in using words to heal, inform, and energize, and that's my hope for this strange thing called a blog. 


Now enough of that.  


Tonight, my parents turned on the TV, and I excitedly squealed, "Oh!! The Bachelorette Finale is on!!" Not paying too much attention to it, I started to multitask (nothing new), until I heard Ashley (the Bachelorette for all you reality tv foreigners out there) begin to explain to her family that she and Ben (her potential "fiance") liked to talk to each other sometimes in their puppy voices. No dog involved.... just them. It was at that point that I quickly debated being entertained or disgusted by the lack of depth or even maturity in this relationship that America was fawning over. According to the filming schedule of The Bachelorette Season 5 with Jillian Harris, filming lasted from March 13th the April 24th. You do the math, and let me know if you think that is long enough for someone to get to know twenty eligible men in order to find "the one". Now now, before you get all upset with me for downing quick relationships, hear me out. I understand those beautiful testimonies from couples who met, got engaged, then married in a month or so, and continue to have a loving, committed relationship after all these years. They're rare, and they do exist. But let's get real here- a "bachelorette" has to get to know 20 guys in that short of a time frame, dates most of them simultaneously, THEN decides which one she should marry? Right, that's realistic. What message are we sending to young girls? 


What happened to romance? I'm not talking about lust, flirtation, attraction, or even truly liking someone. I'm talking about that  Christ centered, trusting, and wholesome romance that we look at and can't help but feel the warmth of their love. We admire the love of our grandparents and other cute elderly couples- classic, pure love, spread across decades, but when did we stop thinking we can't have that for ourselves in this crazed era of the fast and furious? When did we stop thinking that this precious kind of romance can't be achieved? 


I wish I could say I've achieved it, but alas, I'm single with zero prospects, and with no ideas of marriage any time soon. I spent all of high school and the beginning of college searching, nearly begging, for attention from things that won't last, and I'm regretful I wasted that time. High school was miserable enough- adding teenage angst and heartbreak was just a formula for disaster haha. Now in life, I have to make the daily choice not to chime in with the complaints of girls my age griping about "being single", because my romance with my Savior is becoming more than enough. Rather, He's become my life over these past few months. 


At the beginning of this summer, a very important woman in my life encouraged me to find purpose in Christ. I never thought that would mean surrendering my entire heart...including my dating/marriage hopes and dreams, to Him, but I would never make the choice to go back to the empty, half-lived life I had before this summer. Sure, I had Christ, and I was growing in my faith, but I have never experienced a Romance with Him. I never thought it was even possible to have. Friends, the best news in the world is that it is possible, and not just that, but attainable. 


The Lord tells us in Jeremiah 31:3, "I have loved you with an everlasting love...". His love for you goes above and beyond any love you can achieve on this earth. While you wait for a romance in this life, I encourage you to first fall in love with the One who knows you intimately inside and out. Pursue this relationship 

 ¹³ For you created my inmost being; 

   you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 
   your works are wonderful, 
   I know that full well. 
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you 
   when I was made in the secret place, 
   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body; 
   all the days ordained for me were written in your book 
   before one of them came to be. 
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts, God! 
   How vast is the sum of them!

                                            Psalm 139:13-17

                                                      

I know, you're sitting there going, "yeah, this is great, but how/where do I even begin?!" Our precious God says in Jeremiah 29:13, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." So that's my advice- seek Him out, and let Him take hold of your heart. Surrender it all, lay it all down. Nothing is hidden before God, and I promise you He isn't sitting there pointing a finger, or turned away from you and your heart!! Give Him a chance to win over your heart. We've all made the mistake of giving a piece of our hearts to a cheapo who doesn't deserve it- take the chance and give your whole heart to the trustworthy God who created you. Cheap romance will never hold a candle to the unfathomable love Christ has for you! 




"To fall in love with God is the greatest of all Romances..."                                                                                         
                                                                              St. Augustine


Love,
Britta