At this juncture, I feel that having the time and freedom to serve is the greatest benefit of being single. One of my life verses is 1 Timothy 1:16 - "But that is why God had mercy on me, so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life."

I want to be a shining example of His mercy. I want to serve you with all my heart.

Let me close with a word of encouragement. Consider what Paul says about singleness in 1 Corinthians 7: 32-35 -- "In everything you do, I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord's work and thinking how to please him. But a married man can't do that so well. He has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife.

"His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be more devoted to the Lord in body and in spirit, while the married woman must be concerned about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband.

"I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible."

Could it be that singleness is good thing? Paul seems to think so and on my better days, so do I. Is it the best thing? I guess it depends on the person. I see many dear married friends who are not happy. Obviously marriage is a challenge that requires commitment and hard work. I have finally learned, through these women, that marriage is not a fairy tale.

How will our stories end? Only the Lord knows. But let's encourage and uplift one another along the way. Whether single or married, we are all precious sons and daughters of the King. Let us today revel in His love.