Living Without Waiting

I found this book at the Christian bookstore (it was 50% off...woot!) & while the cover & title may seem a tad on the cheesy side it seemed like exactly what I have been needing to read for a while now. A while meaning years.

So I spent the whole $7 on it without hesitation. What can I say, Im wild.

Ive decided to do a chapter a day & have gotten through two so far. Im not in love with the style of writing, it isnt horrible, but the authors tend to repeat themselves a lot. I have found many useful & relative bible passages in just the two chapters Ive read through & thats encouraging. Theres also a journaling section at the back of each chapter which I like a lot, it lends to the whole accountability & diligence thing.

They are using Ruth as a marker for the entire book, as the woman to look to as the lady in waiting. Ive always loved Ruth's story. Its full of heartache but you can tell that she was such a strong willed fighter, pressing on for what she knew she needed to do.

Here are a few quotes that whacked me as I read:

"Is your life on hold until you have someone to hold?"

"Almost as dangerous as neglecting the word is the habit of taking it in but not putting it into practice...Impression without expression can lead to depression."

Here comes an AHA moment y'all....
"Some women put their lives on hold, each waiting for some guy to come riding into her life on a white stallion. They have no china, no decent furniture & no pictures on the walls- none of the little extras that make a house inviting. They make minimal investment in what they hope is a temporary condition...These precious women have settled for the generic version of life. How unlike Jesus' statement in John 10:10, in which He said He came so we might have a more abundant life. Do you believe that the abundant life is only the married woman? Do you think that a woman with a husband, two children, a nice home...is more satisfied with life than you are? Life is satisfying when you diligently serve the Lord, whatever your circumstances."

For pretty much my entire adolescence I have thought "when I get married & have kids it will be like this & I'll be this way & my life will be like this..." & then at some point this week (or last, ya know I cant keep track these days) it hit me that I have no idea what anything will be like in when Im married. I can hope that my marriage & motherhood will be all that I dream of it, but theres never a guarantee who I will be or what others will be & instead of focusing so much on "I just want to get there because I will be happy then" I should be using this time I have to focus on living life, deepening my relationship with the Lord & enjoying.

God has given me all of this "free time" that some people dont ever get for a reason, I shouldnt be wasting it!