What’s Next?”
Both of my brothers recently had kids that more
than likely complete their families. They’re both older than me, so it
makes sense they’re at a different stage. They met and married their
wives, they bought dogs and they had kids, all in a nice little
sequence. I love watching them build their lives together. It’s a really
good thing. When my last brother got married, I was in my early
twenties. No one uttered anything about me getting married then.
But now? I’m 26 years old, unmarried, and childless. The comments are starting.
“What’s next?”
“When are you getting married?”
“Babies look good on you!”
“Better get started!”
I
shouldn’t be overly concerned with what they’re saying. They’re only
teasing or encouraging me with the next step in my life. It’s harmless!
No one means anything by it, it’s just time for me to be heading in the
same direction as my peers. It makes sense. I get it.
But it doesn’t feel very nice.
Believe me, I am fully aware that I am unmarried and childless. Heck,
I don’t even have a real job at this point in time. I’m aware that I’m
getting older. I’m aware that I’m not following the same patterns as my
parents or my brothers or many of my peers. I’m aware that my biological
clock is ticking. OH MY GOSH I AM SO AWARE.
So when you —
friends, family, acquaintances, Twitter followers and blog readers —
remind me that I’m far behind where one would expect to be at my age, it
makes me feel broken. I feel like I’ve done something wrong. I feel
like I’m letting you down or making some horrible mistake.
Instead of relishing in the freedom, blessings and limitless
possibilities that this stage of life offers me, I am left frozen,
feeling like I’m not enough. Like what I’ve done doesn’t really matter
or that I’ve accomplished nothing. I’m an outcast. I’m defective. I’m
panicked. When you comment on my life stage as if there was something I
could do to change it, it makes me feel inadequate. Most days I truly do
love where I’m at right now, but when people question my marital
status, I think I’m messing up my chances to do anything worthwhile with
my life.
What if my ultimate goal has nothing to do with marriage
or kids or a career? What if my aim was to love people well, and to
fully embrace the gifts I’ve been given? Would that be enough? What if
my life goal was to simply run the race, to be called a good and
faithful servant at the end of it all? Maybe that would mean marriage
and children and a thriving career, but maybe it wouldn’t. Is it ok if
it doesn’t?
When you ask when I’m getting
married,
I don’t have an answer for you. When you hint at me having kids, it
makes me jealous of new parents. When you prod about my lack of a stable
career, I get frustrated. When you ask these questions, it doesn’t help
me grow. It doesn’t help me feel content with where I am. It does more
damage than you realize. Maybe you’re just trying to make conversation
or small talk, or maybe you’re genuinely interested in my life. For
that, I’m very appreciative.
I would like to suggest one thing,
though: instead of asking me what’s next, ask me what’s now. Ask me what
God is teaching me, ask me what I’m struggling with, or what brings me
joy. I am learning, I am growing, and I am happy. I would love to tell
you all about it.
I am 26 years old. I don’t have a husband. I
don’t have children. I don’t have a career. I don’t have what people
expect I should have, but I am abundantly blessed with absurd,
exhilarating, and fantastic things I would have never dreamed up on my
own.
So please, my dear friends, don’t ask me what’s next. Ask me what’s now.
A WONDERFUL STORY that i read in recent past ... compelled me to share it with you guyz....
SOURCE :- http://convergemagazine.com/26-unmarried-and-childless-8736/