Companions on 'The Journey of Singleness'

Just last week, I invited any ladies who read my blog to share their thoughts on what they enjoy most about singleness and how they can encourage other single girls. Ana, Anne and Jennifer shared some great thoughts, that I'm excited to post and thus share everyone who reads my blog! If you're a single young lady and you're reading this, know that you're know alone - but have companions on 'the journey of singleness'!

Ana said:

"What do I enjoy most about being single? A couple things that kind of all relate ... the time I get to spend at home, with my family. And the time I get to spend alone, with God, "without the cares of a married women" (1 Cor. 7:34). Once I am (if ever I will be) married my time with my family will be, obviously, lessened. So the importance of building up the relationship with my family NOW and not waiting until later days cannot be stressed enough. And as I've said before, the time I get to spend reading, praying, studying and such would not be perhaps as frequent if I were married. Because when married the cares of the house, meals, husband, children, laundry, shopping, etc., etc. haven been shifted from my mother to me (and also, while at home, I can learn from my mother how to be better at all the those things)."

Anne had a slightly different yet quite similar perspective to share and said:

"Life as a single... hmm. Probably the thing I enjoy the most about being single is being able to care for the things of the Lord unreservedly. I'm so thankful that at this time of my life the Lord has allowed me to visit other countries and see the needs on mission fields. I'm grateful for the chance to be spontaneous and to be available to help others in need. But most of all, I think of all the spiritual lessons the Lord has taught me through this season, and as I look back on the years after high school, I know I wouldn't want to do it any different way."

And Jennifer had a point-of-view that was slightly different again. She said:

"What I enjoy about being single is being able to prepare. It is so nice to be able to dream about the day you will have your own family and home. We should use this energy we have from the hope that is within us to prepare for our futre as a wife and mother. Plan things you want to do for your husband, your children, and neihbors. Study the Bible to see what a godly wife is supose to be and how you are suppose to raise your children. Think about the meals you want to cook and how you can make them healthy. Start practicing diligence, thriftiness, and patience. Learn to go against your will, and try to be happy and in a good mood as much as possible. (A mother can really set the mood of the house!) But don't just think about it, write it down! Start a notebook so that when your husband is being uncarring, your children don't seem to appreciate what you do for them, and you just don't feel like trying . . . you can pull out your notebook and read the words of encouragement that you wrote to yourself. All of this is possible because of waiting!"

Ana went on to add:

"My encouragement, if it could be so called, to younger, single women is this ... don't get discouraged! God has a plan, (at all times!) not just when times are good and flowing smoothly, but at the times when desires for a man fill us so that we think we would burst, when tears fall uncontrollably for the "one" (if you know what I mean) yet to appear in our lives, when our hearts break because of longing and when we call out in the middle of the night and receive no answer from the man of our dreams. To repeat: God has a plan and His plan is for our GOOD, NOT evil or displeasure. God does NOT take pleasure in seeing us miserable, His pleasure is to make us like Him and we cannot be like Him UNLESS we are tried ... purified, and sometimes that's with unfulfilled desires for marriage. Believe me, I know!"

Jennifer pointed out:

"Just think, if we heed to others advise and really, truely, and earnestly prepare for our future with much prayer, we will have a greater chance at a WONDERFUL marriage!"

Thank you, Ana, Anne and Jennifer - I appreciate your words of encouragement and wisdom! ladies, if you're reading this and you have any thoughts to add, please leave a comment! Ladies only, please, of any age - single or married!!