Down the road, I see late night talks, double dates, and movie nights. I see job interviews and an actual paycheck. Down the road, I see a white wedding dress, the Daddy-Daughter dance, my goofy dance moves and white lights everywhere. Down the road, I see kiddos and lots of 'em. They'll probably be wearing mismatched clothes (or lack there of) due to the laundry room resembling Mt. Everest. Down the road I see a worn out husband coming home from work yet still willing to help with the dishes and play catch with our boys. Down the road, I see a wrap around porch and a Honda minivan. I see bills to be paid, mouths to be fed, and a job that provides. Down the road I see bed time stories and early morning cartoons. Down the road, I see a family. I see a job. I see adulthood... Down the road.
Sometimes I take a visit down the road and too often I settle on in only to miss the current street in which I live. I day dream of tomorrow only to go to sleep knowing that I've missed out on today. I have come to realize that the future is worth looking forward to, yes. But more so than ever I have learned that my present state is a treasure in itself.
When we live down the road we miss the independence to be found in singlehood. We miss the long road trips with the team and the late nights of procrastination piled up for our test at 8 AM. We miss nights out with the girls or chill nights with the guys. We miss half priced apps, Andy's custard, and midnight Taco Bel. We miss dorm life and bunk beds. We miss how to be a friend yet we are all too familiar of needing one. We miss the friend zone and third wheeling. We miss out on the student section and IM softball. We miss out on going to Walmart alone and leaving our phone at home. These are the moments I take for granted when I choose my day dream over the day in which I'm living.
Nowadays, I stay where I am. I've learned that memory lane is only as joyous, adventurous, and life giving as we make it. The more I engage in today, the more I have to look forward to tomorrow.
Tomorrow may look different for all of us. Some of us may be dreaming of college, grandkids, slower schedules, graduation, our kids growing up, retirement, adoption, or a financial breakthrough. I have hope that one day we may get to experience the joy of our dreams coming true but until then we must choose to live in the grace God has given us for today and today alone. We must choose to start living each day for the gift that it is.. Instead of living in tomorrow for the hopes of what it may be.
