The List

This summer, I've made up my mind about the thing I'd like to call "the list." Let me clarify what exactly it is. It is a LONG list of qualities and "deal breakers" that I have wanted in my future husband. Almost every girl I know also has one of these lists... either a mental one or on a piece of paper.
It's not bad to have a list of qualities and characteristics that we want, but the problem lies in just how big the list is and what exactly is on that list. A lot of the things I had on my list were unreasonable and unrealistic. To prove my point, I even had such nit picky things as this, on the list: "doesn't have a motorcycle, doesn't pick his nose, has clean toe nails..."
I think one of the largest problems with me having a list was the simple fact that I was limiting God. I was making and creating the perfect man for myself on a piece of paper; but do I really know who the perfect man for myself is? I don't think I completely do. “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” – Phil 4:19.
God knows me so much better than I know myself. If he knows me so well, I believe he would have a better idea of the husband for me than even I would. According to this verse, it says that he will meet all of my needs; I would put a husband in that category- as long as God doesn't plan for me to be celibate. This doesn't mean that I can now have a laissez-fair attitude toward the choosing of my future mate. It definitely doesn't mean that I'm going to date just anyone that comes off of the street. I'm just giving God more room to do his job.
I haven't physically thrown out "the list," I'm keeping it so I can look back at it and laugh at myself a little. I have a small mental list of things God and I both jive with; a list I can count with just one hand. It was a hard process to go through; one I don't even think I'm through with yet. It is a scary process, because it involves me giving up things I think I need, over to God. Little by little, I'm trusting more in God and I have faith enough to realize that by the time this process is through, I won't be saying "I do" to some ax murderer on my wedding day.