Jumping back into the dating scene has caused me to consider, once again, what I want in a relationship if there ever is a “next time”. After having explained some of my history to biker dude, he told me how very sorry he was that I endured some of what I did. The next morning, I sent him this clarification…”I don’t regret a moment of my life up to now. I’ve always been a lover of life, but now I appreciate so much more than I ever did before. And I just don’t want to waste my experience.

So what I’m “holding out” for isn’t about “not settling” in regards to a certain “look”, or income, or hobby. I want someone who can truly appreciate that the quality of marriage, like with life, is determined by what you do with it. And if God does Bless me with a really good man–one who doesn’t take life or me for granted–then I will spend the rest of my life thanking Him for that GIFT by appreciating that man. And, to be honest, that will be Blessing enough for me.

…But if he can see that appreciation as a GIFT from God and appreciate me in return, then we will have the kind of marriage that is truly a wonderful blessing to experience and to witness.

The way I see it, the best way to live life is to truly appreciate every moment; and the best way to love is to truly appreciate each other. So I only share my story to help explain where I’ve been and what I’m “holding out” for this time.”

I often say that so much of life is “in the perspective.”; and because of what I’ve gone through, my perspective has changed…and thinking back, I was gently reminded:

There are really only two basic perspectives for us to draw from…the deceit of the enemy that seeks to destroy, or the TRUTH of God’s Word that seeks to give Life more abundantly. We cannot completely control our life experience…the only thing we can control is which perspective we see that experience through. At my age, I sometimes wear bifocals to allow me to choose the “perspective” of how I see. And, like bifocal glasses for the heart….we can “see” Life so much more clearly when we look through His perspective. 🙂

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:8-11 NKJV)