when all you wanted was to be wanted.

One of my closest friends now has a boyfriend.  He's not her first, but this time around, it's a little different.  And don't get me wrong -- I'm happy for her... kind of. 

See, this guy is two years older than us, which really isn't a problem if he's a good Christian guy and his main focus is God.  Now, he says he's a Christian, but in my opinion, he doesn't live it.  He cusses for one thing, and for another, he doesn't seem to be interested in long-term commitments, if you know what I mean.

I don't want to hurt her feelings -- but I want her to know that I don't feel like God wants her to be in this relationship.  But then she'll snap back with the whole jealousy thing, and I really don't want to go there.  Because I'm not jealous.  Sure, he's an upperclassman and well, he's an upperclassman, but I don't think it's a good idea.

Picture this: a Nicholas Sparks guy rides in on a white horse (or better yet, in an old Ford pickup :) ), takes you by the hand, and tells you you're everything he's ever wanted.  You spend hours upon hours on the phone, you walk down by the river holding hands, and listen to [insert your favorite band here], which you both happen to love. He eventually proposes, kisses you in the pouring rain, and you have kids three years later.  And don't forget the golden retriever on the front porch.  Ain't love grand ;))

Now imagine this: a cute guy asks you out on a date and he acts like Will from The Last Song.  He tells you you're amazing and that he'll be the prince if you'll be the princess, that it's a love story baby just say yes.  Sorry, Taylor Swift moment.  Anyway, so you give him your first kiss (and quite a few more after that) and you just know you'll be together forever.  I mean, he loves you, right?  Six months later he gives you the whole 'it's not you, it's me' speech and you end up bawling your eyes out for days and eat 10 packs of peanut M&M's.  Not a pretty picture...

If I asked you to pick which scenario you'd prefer, the first one would win by a long shot.  As teenage girls, we long to be wanted; our hearts yearn for acceptance, attention, and love.  But guys, well, a lot of them only have one thing on their mind.  Not all of them -- that's for sure.  But 95% or so.

Well, I'm really afraid that my friend's relationship is going to turn out like choice B.  I mean, she's human.  We're human.  We want to be wanted.  But if you wait for the right kind of want (did ya catch that? ;) ), your life might play out more like #1.  Not as perfect, but a lot closer to it than the heartbreak sob story.

But right now, she can't see that...

"'Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you,
You're gonna believe them.
And when you're fifteen, don't forget to look before you fall
I've found time can heal most anything
And you just might find who you're supposed to be.
I didn't know who I was supposed to be...
At fifteen."