Our "Marley"

As I sit here this afternoon, my head is swirling w/ideas of things I could blog about. So much has happened in the last couple of months since I blogged here that I have plenty of subject matter for sure. However, today, I have decided to share a thought that came to me after watching the film "Marley and Me" earlier this week.

The thought is simply this reader...what is your "Marley"?  Perhaps I should clarify what I mean by that. In case you have never seen the film, it is about a young couple that becomes engaged, married, has children, change jobs, change locations to live, etc... but during this entire journey of their life, they have a dog, named Marley, who is with them every step of the journey. Of course, dogs do not live forever and they face living life without Marley for the first time.  I know that many may disagree and perhaps I "think" too much and really should learn to enjoy a film strictly for entertainment-but, I believe that Marley is a metaphor for all of our lives. We all have a "Marley" that at some point we must release and let go of.

For myself, I would suppose that my "Marley" has been the life of being an AF spouse. This is the ONE external/earthly thing that has been present w/my husband and I from the beginning. However, it will be coming to an end in just 30 short months.  I know, to many of you 2 1/2 years seems like a long time-but at this stage in my life it truly is just a blip on the screen! So, I've reflected (as the movie did) this week on my life as an AF spouse and this wonderful journey. Yes, it has been wonderful. I have been SO blessed to be able to meet so many people, visit and live in many "foreign" lands (of course anything is foreign when you are born/raised in small town America like I was), interact with many from various cultures, etc...  Of course I don't mean to indicate that everything about our "Marley" has been without difficulties. Yes, there have been difficult people, scary times in living in/visiting foreign places, etc... Much like the movie-Marley was described as the "worst dog ever" and was even kicked out of doggy obedience school.  So, yes, this life has offered challenges.  But, again, thinking about the end of the movie-in the end-when Marley is dying-all of those around him whose lives have been affected day in/out by him realize that truly, he was the greatest dog EVER!  That's how I feel about my "Marley". Even through the difficulties of being separated from family during important life events/day to day celebrations, trying to communicate with and learn the cultures of foreign lands, trying to navigate roads and drive in foreign lands, learning to work with Christians from various places around the world and respect their judgements/cultures/etc..., being separated from my spouse for deployments/AF conferences/training schools, being a stay at home Mom w/toddlers and a spouse that worked 12-14 hour days, unpacking/setting up a household every 3-4 years, etc... and the list could go on and on. I wake up every day and thank God for such a blessing. Without it, I would not be the person I am today.  I would not have grown in the ways that I have.  Grown to appreciate/enjoy life wherever the AF sends us.  I would not have learned to "jump right in" and just become the best friend, sister in Christ, mentor, wife/mother, etc... I can be regardless of where I am living at the time. Through this experience I have learned that time is precious and we should make every moment count. I have learned to invest in people-for truly no matter where you live in this world-it is the people you surround yourself with that will make a difference in your day to day life. Foremost, I have learned to appreciate/better understand the providence of God and the ways that He has uniquely gifted me and that my job is to get in and figure that out/use my talents to His glory wherever I am living at the time.  Love as many people as possible...no matter what their age, skin color, heritage, etc...that we are all created by God and He put each of us here to serve Him. I've learned to help others learn from my experience/perspective on life. Truly, I have been blessed in ways innumerable.

But, my Marley will soon be leaving my life. In just 2 1/2 short years I will say "goodbye" to my Marley. Just like the movie-I have mixed emotions about it. I am so very proud of my husband that will have served this great nation of ours for 30 years.  I have made some wonderful memories with friends/brethren/and my core family members all over the globe and am thankful for each/every one!  I've never known an adult life "without" this Marley. It will be another first. But, as every part of this journey has been...I face it with great anticipation of what is to come. I'm sure I will find a new "Marley". Perhaps it will be my "place" in the small community or church where we retire.  Perhaps it will be my newfound "empty nest" with my husband.  It may even be grandparenthood.  We all have a "Marley"-whether it is a person/comfort zone/job/place we live/etc...  The one thing I do know is that we all must say "goodbye" to a Marley at some point in our lives.  This is how God created it to be.  For ultimately, God wants us to be dependent ONLY upon Him.  He is the only sure thing. He is THE thing that will be here with us not only during our journey in THIS life, but also eternity in Heaven if we seek His will and obey Him.  I look forward to discovering my new "Marley" in a couple of years time-but for now, I will continue to enjoy my "Marley" and treasure every moment of the journey no matter how simple, complicated, or insignificant it may seem to anyone else and I will praise God from whom all blessings flow:)