(un)expected romance and praying the wrong prayer

so, i'm single. really single. and i have been my whole life for a really long time. and there are times when that's really hard. but lately i've been reminded of the joys of being single. one of my best friends was just in nash this weekend visiting. she's been married for almost two years now. she absolutely adores her husband (and he adores her), and i couldn't be happier for them. but just the little things she said reminded me to embrace the freedoms of my singleness.

but sometimes that's hard. because i'm a girl. and as such, i want to be romanced. and then i remembered that i have a lover who knows romance like no other. and so i prayed this morning that god would show me his romance today. and he did, in a couple ways.

i prayed that prayer in the shower. when i got out of the shower and walked back into my bedroom to get ready for the day, i witnessed another gorgeous sunrise. and the birds were chirping. spring was definitely in the air. and in that moment i heard his gentle whisper: i.love.you.

and then this afternoon i went on my lunch break, and on the way back to the office, i turned the corner. the same corner i've turned hundreds of times before. when turning this corner, i go up a slight hill and at the crest of the hill is a stunning view of nashville's skyline. i've seen it countless times. but today, today it caught my attention in a new way. i was instantly reminded of how much i love this city, its people, and its music. and then he reminded me that he placed me here. he placed me in this city, provided me with a job, a home, roommates, friends, community, a church, and a love for music.

[sidenote: just as i turned the corner and saw nashville and thought of nashville and how much i love nashville, my ipod, on shuffle, started playing a song by seth philpott called.... nashville. how perfect. (sidenote's sidenote: you can get the song on brite revolution. check it out.)]

he loves me. he romances me. the gentle reminders of his love are there all the time. and when i realized that, i realized i prayed the wrong prayer this morning. i had prayed that he would show me his romance. but he already does that, whether i ask him to or not, whether i care to see it or not. what i should have prayed is that i would open my eyes and be more aware. and that i would love him back the way he deserves. he makes the birds sing, he makes the sun rise, he casts light onto the skyline of the city i love, he provides the perfect soundtrack. the least i can do is offer him my life.