I met the man I’m going to marry…
This is the phrase my friend uttered to me last night when I called to see how she was doing.
I know what she says to be true. I could hear it in her voice.
She has never, ever said anything remotely like it. Ever.
Her tone was one I had never quite heard before.
It was pure kid-like exuberance. Not manic, crazy over-the-top happy.
More big-kid-goofy. Mixed with a wise knowing. I swear the entire time she spoke (and we talked for almost two hours), I could hear her smiling.
He feels the same. They are making plans.
She can’t wait to meet his children.
He can’t wait to meet her family and friends.
I can’t wait to meet him and see them together.
They met at work. He sounds loving. Warm. Fun. He told her he figured there may be something more going on when he noticed her blushing when he spoke to her in the office… ah, the body never lies!
While I’m a hopeful romantic, I do know the stuff that can get in the way of love.
Fear. Ego. Control. Did I mention fear?!
I honestly believe the key to any successful relationship is to make yourself vulnerable enough to tell the truth.
Being vulnerable means (as a wise friend recently shared with me):
Simply saying what’s in your heart…
That’s all any of us have to do. And the rest? Well, the rest ain’t up to us.
My newly in-love friend confided there was a moment a while back when she was terrified. A self-described mess. She didn’t know what to do. I think she considered the often-used tactic of playing it cool. But her amazing brother gave her this wise counsel instead:
Tell him.
So she did. She called him and literally told him she was a mess.
He met her exactly where she was and loved her.
He even managed to love her dark fear right back into the light again.
She told me she just keeps trying to move toward him with love, arms outstretched.
She is a courageous one, my friend.
So keep walking towards love, my dear.
And remember to keep sharing what is in your heart.
The truth will always lead you home again…
Happy heart,
Erica