My wedding anniversary is fast approaching, and I’ve been taking some time to reflect on almost one year married. I recently found this little piece of writing I wrote around this time last year, and thought I would share:

“As I write this, I am one week away from my wedding. I will soon be standing in front of friends and family, making a covenant between my fiancé, myself, and God. I almost wish the days could go by faster so I could begin my married life. I can’t wait to spend my days with my best friend, serving God together, and creating a home. I find myself filled with anticipation, hope, and, honestly, a little anxiety as the date draws closer. The days have slipped away quietly these last few weeks, and it’s hard to believe I’m in the final countdown now.

 This last week I’ve been increasingly reflecting on my childhood, those beautiful golden days full of light and laughter. Finding myself constantly looking back to the past, and forward to what’s coming, I’ve forgotten to look around each day and live it fully. I’ve had the sudden realization that these days I’m in now, and this specific time of life is coming to an end.

It’s easy to get lost in the expectation of what’s coming, isn’t it? I want to remember these days. I want to hit pause and look around and cherish this special time. These last days leading up to my wedding day are busy and stressful as we navigate all the last details of pulling a wedding together. There have been arguments, tears, and moments of doubt as everything has seemed to go wrong in every direction. But, even so, I am reminded that these days are good too. These are the last days God is giving me as a single woman, and the relationship I have with my family will soon be changing. I want to make sure I hold them close and use each day wisely.

As much as I am looking forward to the all the new things God is giving me, I want to ensure I appreciate the old things that are passing away. God gave me specific things to hold until now, and the time is soon approaching to open my hands and offer them back to Him. I have had such a blessed life living with my family. As I’ve dealt with chronic illness, my parents have always been my safety net, the ones to care and love me all these years. And now, I will be leaving the shelter of my parents and moving into a new home under the care of my husband. It’s strange to think of such a drastic change as this will be.  I look at my siblings, who I have never lived very far from for very long. The late night movies with them, the midnight talks. Living in the country. Sleeping alone in my bed. These things are all coming to an end. I want to hold each of them until I step into the new things God has for me. As I look ahead want to make sure I remember these days, how good these last days are, even though they are stressful and busy and hard. These days are good too.”

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I don’t have much to say, other than have you pondered on that? Graduating, going to university, first dates, getting engaged, a new career, marriage, babies, new houses… the list goes on of good things that we can get wrapped up in the anticipation for. I don’t think it’s wrong to look forward to those things that God is blessing us with (or we are praying He will bless us with), but have we forgotten what He’s given us right now?

Life goes by quickly, new chapters opening and closing without us really noticing. God gives us many good gifts, so take this as a gentle reminder to not forget what you are holding now as you see what new blessing He is bringing your way.

These days are good too.