A Man Who…

Every girl, when she’s little, pretends of the day she’ll be a princess – like in the Disney movies.  No one really tells her she can’t be a princess or that she shouldn’t be a princess, so she lives her life – day in and day out – planning to be a princess.  She doesn’t know it, but she starts setting priorities and standards for her prince.  "Tall, dark, handsome, dreamy, in love with me."

One day, every little princess in training grows up and starts to realize that her true prince’s qualities far exceed the standards she set when she was four.  Tall, dark and handsome just don’t cut it anymore.  She begins to understand that humanity requires more than just what’s on the surface.  Most girls, as they grow up, they understand that if they are not shallow, there has to be more to Prince Charming than just a charming prince.

So, standards are realigned.  The qualities are analyzed.  The desires are sought and fought for.  They’re listed:

"I want a man who:

1.  Loves Jesus more than he loves me.
2.  Loves me more than he loves himself.
3.  When he realizes he loves me, becomes relentless in his pursuit of
     my heart.
4.  Will stop at nothing to make me realize that his desire is to grow in 
     love with me.
5.  Will promise to protect me, even if it has to be from himself.
6.  Will understand that I could never demand more of him than he
     would demand of himself.
7.  Will understand that what is important to him is important to me and
     that my true desire is to support him in what is important to him.
8.  Will make me laugh – regularly.
9.  Will eat my cooking – regularly.
10. Will seek comfort from my arms and my prayers before seeking
     another woman.
11. Will pray for me.
12. Will pray with me.
13. Will have friends outside of our relationship that he can go to in 
      times of confusion, frustration, anger, elation, happiness and every
      other emotion that is best to share with friends.
14. Will understand that I choose to do the same, not so I can be away
      from him, but so that when we are together, I can be the best
      version of myself for him.
15. Will understand that a relationship is not something you are a part
     of, but that it is something that is a part of you.
16. Will also understand that love isn’t a feeling, but that it’s an ability.
17. Will never ask more of me than he is willing to give to me.
18. Will love my dog as much as I do.
19. Feels my absence when we are apart, but isn’t afraid to be without 
     me.
20. Will love me.  And understand that it’s as simple as that.

…and so, priorities are realigned."