This morning I went to the dentist’ office for a check up and cleaning. The lady who worked on my teeth began making conversation and asking me about my life, what brought our family to Tennessee etc… Being the talkative person that I am, I readily obliged her…and perhaps a little more (yes, even at the dentist’ office, lying down on a chair with my mouth open, I can still be a chatterbox).

Amidst our casual conversation, the lady asked me about my plans after highschool (I graduate next year). Of course I couldn’t simply respond with “I don’t know for sure, but I’m not going to college and I want to be married.”  Yeah, that sounds a bit abrupt.

“I’m not completely sure at this point” I began slowly, “I’m just seeking God’s will for my life. I don’t want a degree, so I’m not going to college (“not going to college!”). I’ll probably work from home, be apart of a small business or something, and (Lord willing) get married and raise a family for God’s glory.”

I showed her my purity ring and told her how I don’t date and want to save my heart for my future husband. When I looked up, I saw a face full of surprise. I don’t think she’s ever heard such strong convictions before, especially coming from a 16-year-old girl.

I’ve known the fact before, but this morning it hit me again. Really hard. The truth is, compared to most, I’m really radical! I’m a Christian, I actually want God’s will in my life. I’m homeschooled, I want to get married and have lots of kids! I don’t date, and I don’t want to go to college (not that college in itself is ‘evil’; I just don’t believe you need a degree in order to get a job or make something of yourself). I love my parents (a teenager loves her parents?), my siblings, and being around my big family.

Yep. I’m just a weird person.

It used to bother me. Being weird. Being, you know, different. Especially after we moved and were constantly in unfamiliar environments, I wanted to be normal and fit in with the crowd wherever I went. I wanted to be liked. How could I be liked with these “radical” beliefs?

I did go through a time of confusion, of rejecting the principles I was brought up to live by. But then God got a hold of me. I don’t remember exactly how it happened or when, but after few trying months, I felt peace – the Lord spoke to my heart and changed my attitude. He never said it would be easy, He said to “follow Me” (Matt. 16:24), and that He would never leave or forsake me. I realized that Christ calls us to be set apart (2Cor. 6: 17a).

So really, I’m suppose to be different, and shouldn’t expect the world to view me as otherwise.

And you know what? I don’t care. I’ll be different for Christ!

-Kasie