To My Sisters: The Kind of Love I Hope You Find

One day you’re going to meet your soulmate. One day you’re going to wake up next to him in a house you purchased together, with two toothbrushes by the sink, two cars in the driveway, and double the dirty clothes laying on the floor — and you’re going to wonder how the heck you got here. How is this possible?

[ This post was first published at SammieRae.com ]

Not too long ago I was a 19 year old college student, crying on the floor of my very first apartment, asking God why he kept bringing me heartache. Couldn’t he just skip it all and give me the man I was meant to be with already? I was over the back and forth of trying to find the right guy. I was tired of the effort I was putting towards misguided friendships and lifestyles in college. I just wanted to relax, be myself, and have one person who’d accept me the way I am for the rest of time. Wasn’t it a simple request?

The funny thing is, I already knew my husband. While I was praying desperately for God to give me what I wanted, my future husband was right there in front of me.

We didn’t officially date right away, but it didn’t take long to recognize in my heart that he made me feel like no one else ever had. I knew that just his name spoken aloud, his picture popping up on my phone, or his presence walking into a room felt meaningful. It felt heavy, with a depth that I couldn’t explain. I had felt butterflies before, of course. Everyone knows the feeling you get in new relationships — that ting of excitement with every thought of them. But this was different. It was deep in the core of me, and it was big. For the very first time in my life, I felt a passion for something worth fighting for.

Our connection was on fire. We just clicked. I remember thinking it was insane how alike we were. We use to spend hours walking around downtown Boone at night, talking about our entire lives up to that point and how crazy it was that we shared so many similar memories & ideas. Most importantly, we shared laughs… LOTS of laughs. We’ve been through a lot in the six years since we met, and we’ve grown together with each experience.

That’s what I want for you.

I want you to find someone that “gets” you & is willing to grow with you.
I want you to find someone who understands your perspective, and tends to be on the same wavelength as you.
I want you to find someone who will laugh with you, ALL. THE. TIME.
I want you to find a best friend, someone you want to hangout with everyday.
I want you to find someone who looks at you and can’t help but smile at all the quirky, amazing things that only you do.
I want you to find someone who pays attention to, and respects, the things you want in life.
I want you to find someone who really wants those things for you.
Someone who will find ways to help you get there, who will map out a game plan with you, celebrate your progress & encourage you in your pits.
I want you to find someone who listens to you and will hear you out, even if he disagrees with you.
I want you to find someone who will compromise & is willing to admit being wrong.
I want you to find someone who will apologize when he hurts you, and really mean it.
I want you to find someone who knows they aren’t perfect, and knows you aren’t either.
I want you to find someone who will not leave in the middle of an argument, but will stick it out until its figured out.
But I also want you to find someone who will draw a line with you when they need to. Someone who will tell you the truth even if you won’t like it when you hear it. Someone who will keep you grounded, not letting you veer too far from who you are.
I want you to find someone who will be honest with you, someone who will never give up on you.
I want you to find someone who commits to loving you eternally, well before your wedding day.
Most of all, I want you to find someone who will prioritize you above all other things in his life, with God being at the very front & center of his focus.

I want you to find a love that you can’t explain. And I want you to know that, just when you get to a point where you feel like God isn’t paying any attention to you at all, that’s when the biggest blessings are about to come. I want you to see hope and excitement, and live life knowing that you can enjoy the now, because your blessings will come, and when they do — you will get more than what you asked for.