There. I said it. It will go
down forever in the annals of cyber history never to be erased or forgotten. Sometimes being single is awesome. And
before we go deeper into this highly suspect topic (I know you’re thinking
that. Yes, you.) Let me list a few familiar reasons why.
Possibilities abound.
No one depends on me doing life stuff
Service has few boundaries.
Sleep in
Eat out
Sleep in
Eat all the cookie dough
Clean house (if I want it to be)
Just myself to get ready
Sleep in
Eat out
Sleep in
You get the idea. So, what do
we do with all this awesome?
Store it up
There will be times when singleness is
not so awesome. It’s part of the ebb and flow of life. At some point, I will (yet
again) yearn to do life as two instead of one. The benefits of marriage will
look like the rainbow’s pot o’ gold. So take stock of what you love in
singleness. Record it. And when your emotions flip (and they will) (perhaps
several times a day) (I’m referring to a friend of mine here) remember it.
Keep it to yourself
Dear
marrieds: Please don’t share how you came home discouraged and your spouse
cradled you in their arms and rubbed your aching muscles as they whispered
assuring, passionate words in your ear. And don’t tell me that while you’re
sitting squished into each other on my couch polishing it all off with a
lingering kiss in my living room. This
does not edify.
Dear
singles: Don’t parade what you can do
and be and enjoy because you’re single in front of your exhausted, aching,
stressed, aMAZing married friends. (just forget the beginning of this post, k?)
I think perhaps this must also not edify.
Truth is, I
don’t have to confirm my worth as a single by itemizing my life for others. Love
doesn’t do that. Ever. Wonderful doesn’t equal needs-to-be-shared. Sometimes love withholds what could be said
even if it’s true and important to me.
Sometimes
love edits.
Use it as a launch pad
What can I
do for others because I’m single? What can I do for God’s kingdom? What does
laying up lasting treasure look like for me? The awesomeness of being single is
not down to fluff our cushy, designer lives with. It’s a firm foundation on
which we can launch into service for God and others. Use it that way.
Don’t hold onto it
Most of my
peers are in their first 10yrs. of marriage. Life is hard for them. Very. When I think of starting all those challenges
late in the game, I kind of want to throw up. Hey, I read mommy blogs, yo. Also, at this point I’m kinda good at singleness. It’s
familiar and comfortable. Most days, it’s awesome.
That can
make the unknown of dating relationships, um…not very appealing. There’s a give
and take there. There’s sharing. There’s possible rejection, misunderstanding,
giving up of single benefits…and perhaps eventually marriage and children.
(looks away from computer screen because hyperventilating)
But
singleness is not something to be grasped. It is something in our hand to use
for Jesus until He decides He can get more glory by placing something else in
our hand. Don’t panic and clench your fist if He starts to do that. Let Him
choose your instrument of praise. Let Him choose your platform.
And let the
awesomeness of singleness reflect our awesome God.
Beth
