Missing out

I am missing out yet again. It’s becoming a norm. I guess it can be expected. You cannot live far away from family & friends and not have FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). Missing out is my reality.

I missed a friend’s wedding in April. I was very sad. I really wanted to be there. And the pictures, videos and well wishes I saw confirmed what I know already. The wedding was as awesome as the couple getting married. My nephew turned 1 on the 31 May. His mom threw him a big celebration on her birthday 1 June! She sent me an invitation. It was so cute. The pictures confirmed that there was plenty of cake and lots of fun. I missed it too. I missed my friend’s pregnancy. I left she was hardly showing and now she has a beautiful baby girl. Sure we kept in touch, and she sent me lots of pictures of her growing tummy. I met the baby through 2D and 3D scans. I still felt that it would have been that much better had I been there to experience it. My sister is expecting her first child. She will be blessed with a boy. What a special moment! I would have loved to be present walking this journey with her! But I’m not there. I won’t even be present at her baby shower. I won't elaborate on missing the Sunday lunch with my family, wine dinners/tastings with my boyfriend or the dinners/getaways with my friends. Adding such details will make the list endless.

Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this. Ecclesiastes 7:10 (ESV) 

However, God has shown me time and time again that he wants me to be here. My relationship with him is growing. I surrounded by his everlasting goodness. His presence in my life is tangible. So even though I am missing out, I am glad God gave me people that are an extension of my heart. By them experiencing it, I get to share the moment with them. Whether it’s Nkulu sending me pictures of the happy couple on their wedding day; Nocebo sending me pictures of Kago’s birthday party; Siya sending me lots of pictures of her journey or Lerato demanding I get an invitation to Akhona's baby shower. It’s all part of this wonderful connection that God wants us to have with people. It’s at this very moment where their joy becomes my joy and their experiences become my experiences.  So I am still missing out but when I hear of these experiences I relive the moment through their eyes. And what a moment it is. Thank you Lord Jesus.