Not
that kind of dumped.
The kind of dumped nobody really told me about, nor was I really prepared for.
I'm talking about getting dumped by your friends for that really great guy, who then becomes that really great fiance, and then that really great husband.
The friendship status changes. And one-by-one it's happening with what is seemingly all (it's legit, let's not pretend) of your friends.
Don't get me wrong I am happy and excited for my friends as they each find that relationship, get engaged, and then hitched. But I have to be honest here too: It also sorta sucks. I get to witness one after another gush and go on and on about how awesome he is, all their dates and adventures, and then the gushing over the wedding details. Not a day goes by that I can't even log into Pinterest without wedding photos and articles right there in my face. For me though, the wrestling comes not with the jealous feelings toward them being in a relationship, whilst I remain single, but rather the morphing of our friendship.
I'm trying to learn how to navigate this new phase, because I was naive to it's coming. I wasn't prepared for, or expected it really. It didn't occur to me that one day I'd wake up, and it would be different. Should it be different? Is it right? YES. It's right and good for them. Newly engaged and married couples should be a bit "obssessed" or "crazy" about one another. They're learning to become one after all.
In trying to keep that in mind though, it doesn't diminish the stinging much for when girls, such as myself, feel like we've suddenly become just another person on a Christmas card list or that friend who you maybe see every other month for a couple of hours at Starbucks.
While they mean well and are trying to be kind, I've easily grown tired of being the third wheel, or the token single girl. It's not a position I enjoy all that much. I almost wish you'd just exclude me and I'll wait for you to fit me in for coffee one-on-one… three months from now. It gets really hard and lonely sometimes.
My plea for maybe those of you who are dating, engaged and newly-married is this:
Don't forget your friends!
**Next week I'm going to be collaborating on a post with a couple of gals of how marrieds can minister to their single friends, so keep an eye out for it!