Be Honored As Whole.

A cousin threw a dart at me, purposefully and with a sharpened blade yesterday. The look in his eye seemed to transform right in the moment he said it, from the jovial conversation that flowed in the room to a twinged jolt, aimed to elevate him from me...

"Well, at least I'm married!"

I blinked strongly, later of thinking of all the correct and confident things I could say back, like "Thank you, but I am whole" or "God has made me complete and that is okay with me..." But in the moment, I just sewed right up and felt that junior high sting of hurt feelings and sunk inward. Like, wow...

It's always the case here, there are always a couple cousins or uncles or others who make ignorant comments, insinuating hurt and smushing me down. Over the years, I've become accustomed to it, and bear myself up to it. I've also become more confident in me and God and therefore, my position in life and in his kingdom.

Being married in Grand Rapids is an essence, either strings attached or flailing.

All of my cousins married by about the time they hit 22, if not for sure by 25. And here I am at 29.

I show up to Christmas' and parties and gatherings, and almost always get the question, "You dat'n anybody yet?" The question comes with a piercing from a few cousins, some even followed by "when are you ever going to date?" Yes, I've even been asked if I like girls... Or there's those endless tags about being too picky, not waiting for Mr. Perfect, and the list goes on...

Where I'm going with this, is less about the clanging of cousin cymbals, cracking loud in my ear and resounding like echoes each gathering...

And more about me and God and life and people. It's about being whole. And being seen as whole. About being accepted. About being loved for you and with you and by you and within you. About labeling humans as honored, in their fullness. Not because of stature or stage, but because they are human.

Be honoring, therefore, in your words. In your tones. In your lives. To those who are married, dating, single, childless, child-full... and human. Whole. And honor yourself in it to, claiming, believing, and redeeming his heart for you in his world, in his kingdom, in his plan for you.