Tip #1: Bitterness "Always the Bridesmaid, Never the Bride"

In my life right now, I get the question often "how many weddings have you been a bridesmaid in?"
When my response is, "Oh well I have been a bridesmaid six times..." The gasp and referral to 27 dresses makes it a little more entertaining.

I never thought I would be a bridesmaid so many times in my life and every single wedding I have been in, I have been single. No date. Just me and my awesome bouquet.

As the number starts to climb of the ratio of my married friends to my single friends, I feel the panic come too.

Will I ever get married?
Will I be the woman with cats?
Will I be the aunt with no kids but has a closet of bridesmaid dresses to prove?

Sure, these are all valid reasons to panic when another best friend gets engaged. However, I have two choices to make.

1) I can be bitter and unhappy with being alone. I can be bitter at God for not bringing him along. I can be bitter at the fact, I will be wearing purple instead of white.

2) I can be happy for my friend and be joyful as though it is my own wedding.

I would encourage all the single ladies to embrace option #2.
Nothing is more sweeter in life, than being overwhelmingly excited the morning of your friend's wedding. It will bring joy to your life in sharing the joy in others.

Bitterness will only cause you to resent your life. It will cause your passion for life to dry up. If satisfaction does not come in your everyday life now, it will not come when you are married.

I feel unbelievably blessed to have had so many opportunities to see the dearest friends experience one of the best days of their life. I feel blessed that they would consider me so dear to be on their "team" for this monumental day.

So tip #1, when you get the screaming, hysterical, crying call that your bestie from highschool is engaged to the most amazing Ryan Renolds look alike, scream with her.
Jump up and down for her.
Cry with her.
Because her joy will bring joy to your life.

Proverbs 27:9

"Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
   and the pleasantness of a friend
   springs from their heartfelt advice." 

love,

jocelyn elizabeth