Lessons from the Shortcomings of a High School Love
Anon
In my sophomore year of high school, I fell in love. Okay, I’ve fallen in love multiple times but this time it was mutual, and I was so excited. He was not what I had imagined the man of my dreams would be like and, recently, his girlfriend had broken up with him for good reasons. I felt so sorry for him that I befriended him. Woe to our female tendency to comfort and console the broken and weak! So I became friends with him and, eventually, he started to like me.
Realizing that he liked me, I was flattered and started to like him back. My younger sister was constantly telling me I was making stupid decisions and should stop hanging out with or texting him. I refused to listen, explaining that we were just friends and there was nothing wrong with getting super personal with him.
Slowly, over the next few months, I began to realize he really, really liked me. I had liked him for a while but I was not quite sure until then if he actually liked me––even though it was very obvious when he said I looked pretty or told me he enjoyed hanging out with me. (Side note: He said these things only in text and I pray that the guy you like is man enough to tell you to your face that he likes you).
I was blessed to go on a trip with my family for a couple months and, during that time, I stopped texting him and prayed to God for guidance as to whether I should end my relationship with the guy. By the time I returned home, I knew that I needed to end our friendship.
It was very awkward at first because he was confused as to why we were not texting or talking much, even though I had told him that I believed texting was cheap and I did not want to do it anymore. Once our friendship ended, I felt so much happier. My sister and all my girlfriends became very close with me. I realized that I was so focused on becoming close with him, that I lost sight of my dearest friends.
Shortly afterwards though, I felt incredible shame and guilt. I asked myself why had I been so stupid to like this guy? Why had I not wanted to admit he liked me? Why had I chosen to ignore all my sisters’ pleas to stop talking to him when I knew she was right?
The questions haunted me and I prayed continually to God for answers and hope in my troubles. Over time, I began to see it. Although those days of hanging out with him were unfruitful and pointless, not to mention a slippery slope, I have matured so much because of it. I realize now that just because a guy likes you does not mean you have to go and pursue it. Because of all those painful days, I will never lower my standards to pursue a relationship.
Sisters, there may be a time in your life that you did things you were not proud of. Try and realize that God can draw good out of your failings. Because of your shortcomings, you will learn from them and grow into the woman that God wants you to be.
