I wish I had a dollar for every time someone told me that long distance relationships were bad. I had always thought they were kind of dumb, and I'd never intended on being in one. I hated the thought of them. They seemed pointless, like studying the points that wouldn't be on the final exam. I didn't think they were practical whatsoever. After all, who would want to commit to a relationship if you'd only see them every few months? Certainly not me, I told myself.

But here I am.

I am a student at UTC, and my boyfriend goes to a school about two hours away. It's not a huge distance, but it certainly isn't a distance that is conducive to every-weekend visit. A few months ago, I would have told you that you were out of your mind if you had told me I would be in a long distance relationship in college. I didn't even want a boyfriend. I was ready to walk into college "boy-free", without any plans of searching for a guy. I saw long distance relationships as something that tied you down and held you back. But that changed. God showed me something different. I now see these relationships as a long test of endurance and spiritual strength.

I began dating my boyfriend a little less than a week before we both left for college. I was told by multiple people that I was being irrational, and that I was being naive. I was told that beginning a relationship right before we both began new lives in new places was ridiculous, far fetched, and laughable. Some people even thought I was kidding. They said long distance was hard. I explained that I expected nothing less. If long distance relationships were easy, everyone would do it with success. But not everyone succeeds because it is not easy.

I believe that to succeed in a relationship (long distance or not), both the guy and the girl need to be close to God. They should value a relationship with The Lord more than they value their relationship with each other. The point of a relationship ought to be marriage to not only the other person, but to God as well. If you don't know how to communicate, and make time for God, how can you expect to effectively communicate and spend time with your significant other? Here's a hint: you can't. You might love the other person with all of your heart, but if you are not actively seeking after and loving God with all of your heart, your relationship is worthless. It sounds harsh, but it's the reality. Actively seeking God has been the center of this new relationship I'm in. The bond that I've been able to form with my boyfriend is not only about the "romantic" side of things; we've become filled with brotherly and sisterly love in Christ. We pray for each other and discuss scripture. We look at different viewpoints, and keep each other accountable for remaining steadfast at school. We also have fun; we aren't always serious - we have inside jokes that no one else understands. He's made me laugh until my sides hurt, and he's he's held me while I've cried. He's become one of my best friends.

I also believe that to succeed in a relationship (long distance or not), honesty and communication are a must. Several people have talked to me about my relationship, and when I explain that I began dating him a week and a half before I moved into college, they give me an incredulous stare, and a shout of exclamation comes from their mouth: "wow, you're so trusting!" As much as I know these people don't mean it in a bad way, it comes off rather interestingly. The tone implies that I'm foolish to trust a guy with two hours between us. I've been asked if I'm worried about him cheating, and I've been asked if I'm concerned about other girls. But I'm not. If he truly loves Christ, and is putting God before everything, cheating will not be an option. If he truly loves Christ, and is putting God before everything, other girls won't be a problem. If something like that does happen, then I will know that the relationship was never meant to be in the first place, he doesn't love God at all, and I need to find someone who can truly love me as Christ did.

I'm not dumb; I'm not being childish. Long distance isn't easy and I didn't expect it to be. However, the difficulties that come along with it are not unmanageable. We communicate and trust and hope and pray. We're both growing into ourselves, and growing closer to God. Long distance is hard, but it's a lot harder if you don't have anyone to back you up and hold you spiritually accountable. I found someone that does. I'm happy. I understand that nothing is guaranteed, and I know that there is a chance things may not work out. But God has a plan. If it is meant to be, it will be. For now, I'm allowing myself to enjoy the time given to me. I'm going to keep my long distance relationship. It's not all fun and games, but going the distance has the potential to be one of the best decisions I've ever made: I just have to have faith.