Proud of me? ;)

So, here is the vision I spoke of in the earlier blog. It is included in the book, so I included the entire bit. Enjoy! :)

"Only One Carry-On Per Passenger"

These words are becoming increasingly familiar to those of us who are frequent fliers. Why? If you bring along more than one bag on a trip, it costs you. What does this have to do with marriage and dating, you ask? Everything! The more baggage you bring into a relationship, the more it costs you in the long run.

I have recently come to the realization that one of the reasons I am still single is because I have too many suitcases from the past. I have to allow God to unpack them, sort through them, keep what needs to be kept, and throw out the rest. When entering into a new relationship, you aren't just beginning a new chapter in your life - you are joining someone else's journey, and this new ride will have to carry their bags as well.

God has given me a glimpse of just what this would look like if the baggage in our hearts was tangible:

In each scenario, there is a newly married couple racing to their getaway car, only the automobile and baggage is a little different in each.

Scenario 1: The couple races to their RV to find it overflowing with every suitcase, train case, duffel bag, backpack and trunk known to mankind.

Scenario 2: The couple races to their Suburban to find it crammed with every suitcase, train case, duffel bag and backpack known to mankind.

Scenario 3: The couple races to their mini-van to find it packed with every suitcase, train case and duffel bag known to mankind.

Scenario 4: The couple races to their dual-cab truck to find it filled with every suitcase and train case known to mankind.

Scenario 5: The couple races to their SmartCar to find only two small bags.

What in the world does this mean? Put yourself in each of these vehicles going on a long road trip. Which one would you prefer? The RV that has to stay on the big roads, can only park at the very end of the parking lot and to have to chart your course ahead of time and stick to it for the duration of your trip, or the SmartCar that can go on all the back roads so you can enjoy all the scenic routes, get in all the small (close up) parking spaces, be able to stop on a dime, and can change course at a moment's notice so you can make the most of your journey?

Of course you want the SmartCar...or at least you should! This is your honeymoon, a vacation experience like no other - the road trip of all road trips! You have put time, money and effort into choosing the perfect destination and of course you want the journey to be just as memorable as the trip itself. You want to stop and smell the roses and enjoy the sights along the way.

Only this is not a vacation you are dealing with - this is your life.

***End of excerpt***

Well folks, there you have it! :) And so, I am patiently (or at least trying to be patient about it) standing aside (well, most of the time at least...lol) and allowing God to drag all my junk out of my luggage, and sort through to get me down to that one carry-on bag! Some days are easy, others are hard, and others it is completely painful, as He is completely removing things from my heart that have grown long, twisted roots and have been there so long, I don't even recognize them as being foreign objects - they've simply become a part of me.

So, in praying for the list, and all the other things God brings to my mind regarding my FH, I am also praying that He catches onto the Carry-On principle, and allows God to go through his luggage as well, so we'll both be ready at the same time! :D

Ok. Two posts in one day - must be some kind of record! :D I'm gonna go curl up with my puppy and read a little bit now! Hope y'all have a great weekend!

Love you!