Waiting isn’t really my favorite thing to do. In fact, I hate having to wait. Over the years, though, I learned that it is really important to be patient especially when it comes to love. As cliche as it may sound, true love really waits.

High school, personally, was an awkward stage for me. When I was in high school, my classmates already have their boyfriends and I felt like I was kind of missing out. It made me curious about what it feels like to be in love. I have always imagined and daydreamed of being in love with a person. I always ask myself questions like…
Will it be easy?
Will it be worth it?
Will it be like in the movies?

In those times, I often find myself tired and impatient wondering when will I ever experience this magical-fascinating-tear jerking-beautiful thing called love? I was really curious and it made my young heart ache for it. Oftentimes I’d listen to my classmates tell kilig stories of their love life and I told myself someday I would be the one telling my friends my OWN story. I longed for that someday for a very long time.

For as long as I can remember, I have been a hopeless romantic with high expectations of love. I fed myself with chick flicks, sappy novels, k-dramas and endless happily-ever-afters. Yeah, yeah, I know, so corny, right? Because of this, I almost felt tempted to try my luck in dating. I mean having a boyfriend in your high school years felt like it was a huge deal. I badly wanted to be wanted. I wanted for someone to pick me; I wanted to know that I was good enough.

I am good enough Lord, right?

When I was in second year of high school, someone courted me. The group of people I was hanging around with already had boyfriends that time and I was a bit pressured to have one, too. My suitor was a junior that time and it was kind of ‘cool‘ to have a boyfriend who’s not in the same year level as yours. So, months passed we have always texted each other but it was super awkward when we see each other in school. I wasn’t the kind of girl who would throw myself at a guy. I still believe that guys should always make the first move. And because I wanted to be sure that he’s the right guy, I kind of rejected him which I felt bad but I told myself that I needed to wait for the right time.

Two years passed by and I realized I wasn’t ready. No matter how I love imagining myself being in love, I was afraid I just loved the idea of love.  I felt like I was still immature and if I jumped into this dating thing, I’d mess up my priorities or worse even have my heart broken.

Before I entered college in the year 2012, there was this guy that I liked. It was a mutual feeling, actually. But even though I liked him, it wasn’t enough. We were young and naive and it wasn’t the right time for us. I told him to wait, that possibly maybe someday if he’s the right guy, there’ll be a right time for the both of us. When I entered college, I met different kinds of people. I still liked the same guy, and he’s still there for me but I still waited and waited for the right time.

Now at 20, I’m still waiting for the right time.

Here are a few of the things I learned (and still learning) while I am in the process of waiting.

1. There is a season for everything
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens..” Ecclesiastes 3:1
I always believed that there is a season for everything and we should wait for that right season to come before we jump into it. There’s a time for studying and for jumping into a relationship. Sometimes when we’re young and immature, we make choices that could alter our lives forever. We need to make sure that we make the right choices in life. Sabi nga ni Bishop Oriel, “kung maganda ka, maghihintay ka.” That’s a principle I applied to myself. Lol.

2. It’s okay to have (high) standards
Having [high] standards doesn’t mean you’re too picky or that you think highly of yourself. It just means that you know your identity and you want the best for yourself. And also, by having a standard, I don’t mean having superficial standards. Just pray to God that He will send you His chosen one.

3. While waiting, be the right person.
You should do your part, too. Of course, if we want someone who is right for us, we should also be right for them. Remember when I told you that there’s a time for everything? Well, while you’re in the time of waiting, you should get to know yourself more and use your time for self-development.

4. Guard your heart
Many times in your life, there will be lots of wrong people who will try to knock at the door of your heart. If you don’t know your identity in Christ, you might let them in and hurt you. So you should always ALWAYS guard your heart because when it comes to emotions, we get really weak.

5. Pray for your future partner
And of course, lastly, you should pray for your future partner. Pray that you both have the same values and principles in life. Pray that your future relationship will be centered by God’s unfailing love. It’s just really sweet to know that someone’s praying for you and it’s way sweeter to know that someday, you will be able to hold the hand of your answered prayer.