The Challenges of Singleness

Let's face it - being single is HARD!  There are many challenges that come with the lack of having a lifelong partner by your side.  Practically speaking, it is very difficult to afford living when you are single.  I still remember my days of rationing out toilet paper squares the year after I graduated from my Masters program!  On top of that, add the emotional burden of being solely responsible for yourself - emotionally, physically, and spiritually.  Sure, the church and your community are there to help support you, but I have found that it is often the cry of the single man or woman's heart to have something deeper than what is being offered.  Singles are yearning for a connectedness with others, yet are often stifled by the boundaries of being "a single person". 

Recently someone passed this blog post on to me, and I thought it was well worth sharing:

http://lindseysthoughts.wordpress.com/2013/12/17/6-ways-to-love-single-women-in-your-church/

Whether you are a single person needing affirmation of the loneliness and pain you may be going through, or a married person needing practical ideas for how you can love your single friends well, I think the aforementioned link will be good food for your soul.

I personally feel like I come from both worlds - I was single up until age 30, and I have now been married for a whopping 4 months!  In true Counselor fashion, I see the pros and cons of each lifestyle.  Marriage is definitely a gift, and I love it!  However, I think singleness can also be a gift, but for some reason it seems harder to love.  So here are my thought provoking questions for the day:

• Does singleness feel like less of a gift because community in their lives is lacking?  
• How well do we really support and love those that are around us (marrieds and unmarrieds)?
• Are we so caught up in our own lives and our busy schedules that we miss the opportunities to connect with others more deeply?

Maybe as we all go through these next few days, weeks, months, and years we can practice mindfulness in this area, and let God's love for us flow through to all whom we encounter!