Reason, Season or Lifetime

It has been said that people come into your life for a REASON, a SEASON, or a LIFETIME.

I learned just recently that I have no control over which of those to expect.

***

I met him on September 3rd. On October 17th he was GONE. 44 DAYS. That's all we got.

It's all so interesting. I really thought he'd be in my life FOREVER. He was just who I'd been waiting for. Articulate. Encouraging. Intelligent. Thoughtful. Kind. Easy to talk to. Loves Jesus. Understood me because he was dealing with the same struggles that I was. Oh...and was pretty darned good looking.

Anyway...at whirlwind speed we developed a friendship. And that was refreshing. I only have about a handful of men in my life who I really consider FRIENDS. Most are simply acquaintances. This one though...a FRIEND indeed.

We talked often and then he had some "life changes." He told me not to worry though...we'd still be in touch. He wanted to remain friends with me...don't worry. So I didn't.

I believed him.

We talked a few more times after his "life change" (and no...he didn't get married, nor was he married, nor was he involved with anyone...and he wasn't gay...so you can clear all of those out of your mind. I just can't get too specific).

Then, 44 days later I noticed that he had "unfriended" me. I gotta tell ya...nothing says, "We're not friends anymore and I don't want you in any part of my life" more than being unfriended.

Could I have called him? Sure...if I had his number. That was part of the "life change".

For a minute I thought that maybe he had deactivated his account. Nope. Wrong. He's still there.

So, it's led me to to a lot of thinking. Wondering just what exactly went wrong. We go from having great conversations and developing the "connection" that we both acknowledged...to absolutely NOTHING.

Now here's the really crazy part. In 44 days...just 44 days, he changed my life and made me realize things that I never knew existed. The main thing that he taught me, which I believe was the REASON that God placed him in my life in the first place, was that I need to "practice patience." He said those words to me a number of times. So much so that they've become my motto. Now I'm praying for patience, reading about patience, and yes...even "practicing patience". This is something that no one's ever pointed out to me before. Or if they did, I just didn't care enough to change. He made me care.

Am I upset about the fact that he exited my life as quickly as he entered it? Of course I am.

Is there anything I can do to change what's happened. There isn't.

If he chooses at some point to reinstate our friendship I will welcome him with open arms.

Until then (and I am really hoping that it happens), I pray for him every night and ask God to bless him and all that he does. If it be in God's will for my friend to come back to me, then so let it be.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: What would you do with a person if you knew that they would only be in your life for 44 DAYS?

Talk to me!

Til next time...