Before coming out on the Race I used to read a lot of blogs. I read that a lot of women suggested to not read romance novels or watch romance movies out here. But sometimes a girl just wants some romance in her life. It was just the other day I was lounging around with my team and even the guys were having their input on how engagements should be done and what they want for their weddings. The more and more the Race goes on the more and more the topic of marriage seems to come up. A lot of us women talk about engagement rings, engagement pictures, engagement clothes for the pictures, engagement announcements; it goes on and on. Some ladies even pick up bridal magazines in every country and send them home. I’m not one of them, but sometimes I can’t help but be curious about what my own story will be.
Then out of nowhere God slapped me in the face. Yup, that Jesus feller gave it to me straight. Right around midnight a couple weeks ago I received a hard word.
“Christina – how am I supposed to give you a husband when you haven’t yet learned how to serve the men on your team?”
WHAT?!?!?
Um, excuse me, God. WHAT?!?!?
YOU cannot be serious! Is this a joke? Certainly it wasn’t a joke. That would explain why I have felt so convicted about that. I have been with Tom since the beginning of the Race. We’re now about to enter our 6th month of serving Christ side by side, and now God is telling me I don’t know how to serve him. Christian and I are now going on our 3rd month of being on a team together. But, I guess having two guys on your team doesn’t equate to serving them.
I have a deep desire now to treat these men differently. After all, someday they will be some women’s husbands! They should be treated as such. These are the men that dash at a full sprint up hill to protect us when a drunk African man approaches us. The men that consistently lift my pack on travel days in and out of buses. The men that go everywhere with me to ensure my safety is a priority. The men that never complain when we need a companion or a helping hand when the “manly” things need doing. Yup, they are the same men that do treat us like future wives should be treated.
So I did what I had to do. I told our team what God had told me and put on my heart. I told them so they would keep me accountable. I do indeed get jokes about going out of my way to serve the men but I’m doing what I have to do. God told me I need to learn to have a servants heart towards the men. And serve I am, or I’m at least trying to go out of my way for them. Maybe I was a little over the top insisting that Tom get tested for Malaria (don’t worry, he’s fine), or making sure I was the one to pour water over their hands before we eat, or bringing Christian my leftover omelet because he is a growing man that needs lots of food. But I don’t care. This is the difference between me learning to be a great wife for someone someday or not.
I firmly don’t believe you can be a great wife before learning to be a servant. So learn and press on I will. Because dangit, I have every intention of getting wifed up one day, when God sees fit to bring that Prince of a Godly man into my life!
Is this photo to risque for the world race? It's candid love. It's whimsy.
