Loving the Single Life
“I’m just loving the single life!”
When an “approaching-forty-year-old” friend of mine said that the other day, I was a bit stunned. Something about her enthusiasm seemed rare and foreign to me. It struck a cord down in my heart that thrust me into a trance of sorts. She continued our conversation completely unaware that I was lost in my own thought.
Had I loved the single life when I’d had a chance to?
I was pretty sure I couldn’t answer an enthusiastic “YES!” to that question. Sure, I had fun times, but I spent a large portion of that season in life, overly-anticipating the next one. In a sense, I think I missed out on a lot of the beauty that singleness has to offer.
I think a lot of single women do.
For the record, my single friend wants to be married. She hopes that God does have a spouse for her and she prays to that end, but in the meanwhile she’s been living a full life that has been rich with deep friendships, travel opportunities and the passionate pursuit of the calling God has on her life. She hasn’t let the fact that she isn’t married stop her. . . from anything.
. . .not from moving to another city a couple years ago just for the fun of it
. . .not from quitting her corporate job to pursue her passions last fall
. . .not from going after her graduate degree in a brand new field
. . .not from jumping on a plane to Italy with a girlfriend last month
. . .not from going to Bible study faithfully and serving as a peer leader at her church
. . .not from hanging out on Friday night in a gorgeous new dress she bought for herself
. . . not from making wise financial plans for her future
Nope, this woman hasn’t missed out on much and in the process of living life fully, she’s run smack dab into a contentment that seems to evade so many.
The single life can be a beautiful season for anyone if they’ll only take the time to realize what it’s worth. But, as with any thing of value, it can become common-place and lose its novelty.
So, welcome to “Freedom Friday” – a day on our blog devoted to reminding you, my single sister, of the beauty of singleness. To kick off “Wife Wednesday” many single women reminded wives of all the things they easily take for granted (click here if you missed it). So, today, I thought it only suited that married women have an opportunity to flip the script . . . turn the tables . . . change directions. . .
Well. . . you get the idea.
Single women: here are some of the reasons why married women think you should appreciate the season of life that you are in!
(Married women, I’m depending on you to comment today and add to this list!)
Single women. . .
- …get to anticipate that sweet, nervous energy of a first date and then a first kiss.
- …can be the sole decision maker for small and big matters in their lives
- …can have undivided attention when pursuing God’s call on their lives
- … can determine how to spend their own money
- …don’t have to share their bed and can even sleep right in the center if they want
- …don’t have to shave their legs when they don’t want to
- …don’t have to shave their armpits when they don’t want to
- …can wear anything they want to for bed without worrying what a man will think
- …can eat dainty “girl” food for dinner without having to cook something suited to a man
- …can set the thermostat in their home to the temperature they desire
- …don’t have to wait for someone to leave the house in order to have alone time
- …can explore style and fashion options suited to their own tastes
- …can cut their hair drastically on a moment’s notice
- …can spend as much time as they want with their friends
- …can make spontaneous plans without consulting someone else
- …can use their time however they’d like – to study, read, serve, take care of themselves physically, etc
- …can accept opportunities for long term travel that might not be conducive when in a relationship
- …are better poised to learn complete reliance on God as their supporter, protector and provider
While some of these thoughts are fairly comical, the truth is, there is a reason why the apostle Paul said that it is good to remain single (1 Cor. 7:8). I’m sure that the last of the comments listed above is a big reason why.
So, single sisters, what have you been taking for granted about the life that God has given you? In what ways are you not taking full advantage of your singleness?
Take a moment to leave a comment telling me what you are grateful for about this season of your life. Even if it takes you a little while to wade through all the things you aren’t enjoying, drill down your focus to one or two things that you are and use this blog to begin your own personal list of gratitude.
You are in a good place sister!
Be deliberate and intentional about enjoying it!
Can wait to hear from you!
Priscilla
