My favorite singleness moment from 2008 happened on September 12, when I closed on my first home. The excitement continues as I enjoy turning my house into my home. I love imagining how I want each room to look, then putting that into reality. There are moments when having the whole house to myself seems a little empty, but that's when I remind myself that one of the blessings of being single is the quiet time whenever I want it. I've really enjoyed sharing the blessing of my home with friends and family—especially now during the holidays!
-JoAnna
My singleness highlight was finally realizing and believing that I don't need a spouse in order to accomplish many of my big dreams: owning my own home, being financially stable and debt-free, and even becoming a parent (I can be a foster parent and/or adopt). Obviously it's harder to do these as a single person, but it's not impossible.
Several of my single friends and I realized independent of each other this past year that, in some ways, being single is easier. For example, in the last 18 months I've gone through a job change, a move, graduation with my masters, and health issues. All of these things would have been more complicated if I'd been married and raising a family.
When I realized I'm fine as my single self and, more importantly, when I started praying for guidance rather than for a spouse, my dating experiences became more fun—I was more relaxed and I had a much better attitude about life.
Side note: God recently blessed me with a wonderful man in my life, and it appears I will have a spouse to accomplish all those goals we both share. Interesting how that all works out!
-Jo
When I read The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer earlier this year, I was struck by his point that we must remove whatever is keeping us from following Christ wholeheartedly. At that time, my obstacle was my desire not to remain single. After choosing to die to self, I really don't desire marriage as much. I desire Christ so much more and have a deep intimacy with him that no woman could ever match. Sometimes it's still difficult to think about staying single forever, and I still think I'll marry someday, but this shift in thinking has given me more peace about where I am today.
-Rob
My singleness highlight began in December 2007, but has continued all year: I started travel nursing! I'm enjoying myself and am exploring areas of the country I haven't seen before. If I was married, this would be an extremely difficult lifestyle to maintain. The Lord has blessed me this year with this opportunity to serve others while traveling the country, and I continue into 2009 with great expectations of the wonders he'll keep showing me.
-Alana
I'd been a broken-hearted, discontent, and lonely single woman for seven years. Earlier this year, God led me to participate in lent, which is something I'd never thought about let alone practiced. But God placed it on my heart and I obeyed. Then he told me what I needed to give up: relationships. That launched a difficult fast, but I did my best to give up thinking about relationships, watching movies and TV shows about relationships, searching for a relationship, even talking with my girlfriends about relationships.
The most amazing thing happened: When I placed that area of my life in God's mighty hands, the struggle ended. I came to place of complete trust and peace about my singleness. Since then, I've started my own Christian singles group and feel truly excited to be used in any way the Lord wants to use me!
-Rachael
After my boyfriend and I broke up in September, friends from church quickly embraced me. One day when we were all out to lunch, I felt God watching over me. It was as if he was saying, "Jennifer, this is where I want you, not in the arms of some sleazeball." I'm thankful God gives us second chances to do life his way!
-Jennifer
This year I had an epiphany about how God has used my singleness to help me grow. I came across an old friend online. She's only a year older than I am and I was shocked to discover she's been married for ten years and has six children. I suddenly realized how many things God has taught me and how many things I've had a chance to do in the last ten years. I've traveled to France and London, discovered a talent for drawing and painting, taught Sunday school, made many friends, and become heavily involved with a new young-adult fellowship at my church.
The more I thought about it, the more I thought of ways I've been stretched and things I've learned. Then it struck me that if God's done all of this in my life over the last ten years, how many more things does he have for me in the next ten years? I certainly hope those plans include marriage and a family, but if they don't, I'm still excited to see what God has in store.
-Rebecca
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