Single and Fine - Happy Valentines Day!

Happy Valentines Day everyone!  I’m aware that V-Day stirs up a lot of different reactions within all of us.  This is a day dedicated to couples to share their love for one another in original, special and expressive ways.  It is also a day, that unattached singles out there pray will pass by swiftly and painlessly.  For singles, V-Day is a day when they are confronted with the reality that they are indeed, still single.  Some of my unattached girl friends joke that they feel the worst on V-Day because they realize that they are still in the “waiting line” of singlehood.

As a single woman myself (past the quarter of a century mark), I can understand this undercurrent of loneliness.  However, while I acknowledge the reality of what it means to be single, I am also learning to embrace the gift of singleness that God has given to me at this stage in my life.  There are certain things that I love about being single which I think even my married/attached friends miss at times.  The greatest thing about being a single woman for me, is the freedom and flexibility I have to live out God’s calling in various, creative and adventurous avenues.  While I do long for the gift of building up my own family in the future, right now I’m relishing the opportunities I have to study something that I’m passionate about, befriend many genuine and special people, travel and see what God is doing in other parts of the world, spend late nights talking with and counseling people, and believe it or not I even relish being able to eat a meal by myself and enjoy the sweet solitude when I am alone.

I’m not certain what your picture of singlehood looks like, but on this day when what is celebrated is love between couples, don’t neglect the opportunity to appreciate the gift of singleness that God has given to many of us during this season of our lives.  Before you know it, your time will be up in the waiting line and your life stage and responsibility will change faster than you may be ready for.  Just ask your married friends!

So, whether you are married, single or in between, may you know the perfect, all-consuming and complete love of God in your lives.

Happy Valentines Day!