Chosen.

CHOSEN.

I pulled the perfectly engraved gold ring out of the box and tried not to feel entirely overcome. We had been dear friends for over a decade and though the language had changed from 22 to 34, the underlying current was undoubtedly the same - I CHOOSE YOU. 

I met J when I graduated from college and moved to Orange County. I was working at EvFree Fullerton in the business office and lunching on the regular with her big sister Becca. At some point I was invited to a SIMPLICITY women’s event and I’m pretty sure J had been roped into leading. I couldn’t tell you much about the event - but there were cupcakes and I have a vague recollection of J in hot pink pointy-toe heels. She has great style! 

Simplicity doesn’t exist anymore and our friendship quickly transitioned to STUDYING together. We had strict rules because we were both working on Master Degrees at the time. J teaches special education (like a boss) and I have an MBA and work as a Project Manager. That season was marked by the phrase “I will celebrate your life choices.” We were both wrestling and making decisions about WHO we were going to be - as independent women out on our own. We chose differently - and also very much the same. 

From there she bought a house and I moved in with roommates. There were boyfriends for her and so many friends getting married all around me. Both of our siblings had babies and we reveled in the JOY of being aunties (it is by far the best role in the world). We fell in love with brunching together and realized our true propensity for watching copious quantities of bravo television. We hosted an annual Oscar party with way too much food and not nearly enough people because we like to actually WATCH the show. We went wine tasting, occasionally ventured out to fancy-pants restaurants, and decided to LIVE the adventures now. And no matter how full life got, we reminded each other regularly, “I have space for you.” 

In the past two years or so, J got married to her match - NicNac. Initially I was surprised, she was a Redmond for LIFE…but then she met the one who made marrying worth it. I focused on loving foster teens, and fell in love with Africa. I also invested in my heart - and pursued deep healing. Truth-telling it was time for me to realize and believe that CHOSEN isn’t something that happens to you. It isn’t based on being seen by a man - it isn’t a worldly definition - it amounts to much more than that. You can allow yourself to be minimized or reduced OR you can stand tall in your worth and walk courageous and brave believing your value and understanding who you are. You were CHOSEN from the very beginning. You were CREATED with a purpose and you have significance in your soul. I made a decision that will not wrestle chosen anymore. I HAVE BEEN CHOSEN & I AM CHOSEN BY SO MANY. I will no longer feel unworthy. 

So, when I opened that little black box and a gold ring with Chosen was hidden inside, it so perfectly described this season. 

We are each Chosen.

The question is - will you live as if you are?