C
So here is a discussion topic
I'm a single girl who from a young age has very much had a heart to be married and have a large family. I became a christian just before i was 21 after some rocky teenage years with drink and drugs. I committed my life to Christ and have never really looked back. Scoot forward 11 years and I am now almost 32 and single. In face i haven't really been on a proper date since i became a christian. I have been active in my church and lead a full life. I have a big friendship group and its quite rare for me to have an evening in (but when i do they are the best!) I digress. My point being i'm a normal girl just serving God and living life right. Hoping and praying that one day i will meet someone special who will reciprocate feelings.
But then there is this part of me which is sooo conflicted. I trust God for my future but this journey of 'singleness' is a hard and lonely road to walk. If you have been there then you know that sometimes being in the middle of your friendship group and feeling totally along is a true feeling.
Back to the discussion point ... The church, my church, my great church (that i love), my active church. My church that runs courses for teens, for youth, for young adults, for women, for men, for pre marriage , for marriage, courses for raising up toddlers, for parenting teens. Well what about those that walk a path that isn't the 'norm'?
My church, and rightfully so celebrates when couples get engaged and are married, the new dynamic duo are highly praised and are told they can achieve so much as God is FOR marriage, and of course He is and they can. But they aren't the only ones. Where is the public praise for the single girl who made it through another week of crazy hormones without saying yes to the non-christian who asked her out... seriously, let's be real, it's hard! Good job me!
Some people, although they desire it, never get married. Does that mean they have failed, absolutely not, but it does mean that they are walking in a future that they never planned for. More often than not, a lonely one, even if surrounded by many.
I want to talk about this because recently my pastor asked me if the church should throw a speed dating night so that i (and others like me) might be able to meet someone. I was horrified. This journey is not something I often discuss with people so i'm not sure where it came from in him. Should church's be looking to marry people off, or should they be looking to affirm us where we are in whatever stage we are in.
Thoughts?
I'm a single girl who from a young age has very much had a heart to be married and have a large family. I became a christian just before i was 21 after some rocky teenage years with drink and drugs. I committed my life to Christ and have never really looked back. Scoot forward 11 years and I am now almost 32 and single. In face i haven't really been on a proper date since i became a christian. I have been active in my church and lead a full life. I have a big friendship group and its quite rare for me to have an evening in (but when i do they are the best!) I digress. My point being i'm a normal girl just serving God and living life right. Hoping and praying that one day i will meet someone special who will reciprocate feelings.
But then there is this part of me which is sooo conflicted. I trust God for my future but this journey of 'singleness' is a hard and lonely road to walk. If you have been there then you know that sometimes being in the middle of your friendship group and feeling totally along is a true feeling.
Back to the discussion point ... The church, my church, my great church (that i love), my active church. My church that runs courses for teens, for youth, for young adults, for women, for men, for pre marriage , for marriage, courses for raising up toddlers, for parenting teens. Well what about those that walk a path that isn't the 'norm'?
My church, and rightfully so celebrates when couples get engaged and are married, the new dynamic duo are highly praised and are told they can achieve so much as God is FOR marriage, and of course He is and they can. But they aren't the only ones. Where is the public praise for the single girl who made it through another week of crazy hormones without saying yes to the non-christian who asked her out... seriously, let's be real, it's hard! Good job me!
Some people, although they desire it, never get married. Does that mean they have failed, absolutely not, but it does mean that they are walking in a future that they never planned for. More often than not, a lonely one, even if surrounded by many.
I want to talk about this because recently my pastor asked me if the church should throw a speed dating night so that i (and others like me) might be able to meet someone. I was horrified. This journey is not something I often discuss with people so i'm not sure where it came from in him. Should church's be looking to marry people off, or should they be looking to affirm us where we are in whatever stage we are in.
Thoughts?