the essence of being single

THE ESSENCE OF BEING SINGLE


All your life, you had specific dreams about whatyour family life would be like when you finallymarried. You were so intent on what you wanted, you even madea list of qualities and characteristics you werelooking for in a spouse, in a home, in your job, in your children. But time passed, and that person you were so intent on didn't come along. All of your friends married, had children, had beautiful homes. And still you were single. You prayed and prayed and prayed for that person to come along, but nothing happened. You had a good job. You served in your church. You spent daily time with the Lord in prayer and studying the Word. You dedicated your life to serving God in every way possible, but still nothing. So you decided to take matters into your own hands, and you began an active search for a mate. And within a short period, you met someone who almost fit the bill. Almost. Sure, there were a few things Missing, a few rusty spots in that person's character. But, after all, no one is perfect. Maybe your goals were too high. Maybe you'd been asking for the impossible. Maybe this was the person God wanted for you so your character could grow through dealing with his or her failings. Even though it often seems that God is slow to answer prayers, no matter whether it's about a mate, or a job, or our children, or our finances, or anything else, we have to remember that God doesn't wear a watch. Nor does He look at our human calendars. He sees with eternal eyes. He operates on an eternal timetable, according toHis plan and His schedule. If God seems to be running late, don't get impatient and run ahead of him. Wait for the Lord's timing in everything. To the single folks out there, this is for you. Single means you have the time to grow and be the person you want to be. Single gives you space to grow. Sometimes, it is harder to grow when you are tooclose to someone. Trees are planted far apart so they can spread theirbranches and become strong as they mature. Single means learning to live by yourself. However, that is no more difficult than learning tolive with somebody else. Single means freedom. You are free to spend a week's vacation on thebeach, to take computer courses, to work late on aninteresting project, to spend the day in bed with a good book or simply with a person who hasread one. Single means learning not to need a man/woman tomake your life meaningful but learning to live witha man/woman because you want to be with him/her. Single means that sometimes you will wonder why you will bite your lip and feel wistful and wonder ifmarriage is better. Ironically, yet quite happily, single is feelinggood about being in control of your life. It is liking and respecting who you are and why youare. Single is realizing that being married is notnecessarily better, it is merely different. Single means that there could be something wonderfularound the corner and you can take advantage of it.


Being single means you are free to love again.

(I hope.....)