Not your ordinary fairy tale

Growing up with a fairytale-name Cinderella made me believe that finding love is as easy as losing a glass slipper at a dance ball and later on marrying the prince charming who eagerly searched for you. But it didn’t happen the way I envisioned it to be, in fact, it was the opposite.

I used to be someone who was inclined on planning and making my way towards achieving it, no matter the cost. And it frustrates me when things don’t go as they should, or so I thought.

“I’d get married at the age of 29 or 30”- That was my plan because for me, that’s the ideal age for marriage. I was in a relationship when I was 29 and I was so glad because I (thought) was right where I needed to be so I could check another item on my list. The thing is, deep down, my heart was telling me that something was amiss, I wasn’t at peace.

One important thing I’ve learned in my journey walking with God was that He gives His unexplainable peace on things where He will be most glorified. Something I know my relationship then was lacking. Red flags! There were glaring red flags in that relationship which made me ask “is this the man I’d be with for the rest of my life? Is this the man I want to be with in raising my future kids?” When you’re in love (?), your judgment could be clouded, thus, making you brush things off easily, making you swallow things you’re supposed to let go.

Amanda Moser said “If you ignore the red flags, embrace the heartache to come”.

I ignored them and it gave me heartache that I couldn’t embrace. It made me ask “where is my and they lived happily ever after”. I was crushed. My dreams were shattered. My timeline was a mess. I thought to myself, there must be a way out of it, there must be.

But there wasn’t. I needed to let go because you can’t continue watering dead plants.

Famous quote says “by letting go of the wrong relationship, you give the right person a chance to enter your life. “ I’d say, by letting go of wrong relationship, you’re allowing God to give the right person He intended for your life.

“Renovation requires destruction” I once heard this and I realized as a loving Father that God is, He intends to renovate me, to sanctify me and to break beliefs I imposed on myself that don’t align with His.

Today is our third year of celebrating Valentine ’s Day together. Had I not let go of the wrong one, had I continue compromising just for the sake of my own timetable, I wouldn’t have this unwavering peace that comes from knowing I am right where the Lord intends me to be – and that is to be in a marriage where He is at the beginning, He is at the center and will give Him glory until the end.

A love story that did not start with “Once upon a time” but by His grace will end with “…and they lived joyfully and its legacy will live on even after”.

If you’re single who happens to be reading this piece of me and you’re struggling to surrender because you’re so pumped to have your “happy ending”, fret not for we can be sure that Jeremiah 29:11 is the heart of God.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

You are not a princess like Cinderella who was turned one because of a magic wand, you are a Princess because you are bought by not just a king, but The King of kings, not by a magic wand but by nail-pierced hands and feet.

YOU ARE LOVED by Him, not just on Valentine's Day but all the days of your life. Now, stand tall, wear your crown and declare "one day, my Father will allow our paths to intersect at the right time but until then, I will fall in love more to the One who's head over heels in love with me as demonstrated on the Cross".