Being single
I am a little anxious to touch this subject. I fear I may change my mind in two days. First of all let's get the logistics out if the way. I was born in 1968... you can do the math. I've never been married and I have birthed no children. Sorry, no satisfactory explanations are available. And the purpose of this "thought" is not to explain why I'm still single. I won't try that.
But what I can share is some of the things I have learned and experienced in these years of flying solo.
(this is not an all exclusive list)
1. I love children. I value children. They are a treasured resource. When a child tells me out of his/her own free will... "I love you" I feel "wowed". It is an honour bestowed on me to be a auntie to so many children. It brings tears to my eyes and I feel so blessed by God.
2. I am flexible. There are so many opportunities available for me because I don't have the responsibility of a family. My world is huge.
3. I appreciate married people. Most of my friends are married. I value the stability of having families in my life as a single person. I also know the contribution I can make being involved with them.
4. My world allows me to learn where ever I can. I have a full time job that provides an education in itself; I take night courses when I can and I keep my library at home full of interesting things.
5. I spend my nights talking to Jesus before I fall asleep. When I wake up, He's the only one there for me to talk to. Those moments of solitude are moments spent with my Creator, my Lord and my Friend.
There are pitfalls to being single, I'm not unaware of those. There are blessings in a marriage that I can only dream of. I tell people who are on a diet to think of what they can eat, not what they can't. Sometimes a change in focus is necessary to be content. Which is what I want to be (whether single or married)... contented and ulcer free!!!
Tears
I was told crying is healthy. I've told others crying is healthy. It's a way to vent the pain that grows inside. But what about those tears that just don't quit. Does that mean that the pain won't end. Does that mean that there is an endless supply of misery waiting to avial itself through my emotions. Have you heard this line? "You just have to deal with it, honey." Deal with it... is that like some sort of Aloe Vera cure? Just put the juice on the wound and tomorrow the gash is gone. "I'm praying for you." That's great... but what do I do about the waterfall. IT'S NOT GOING AWAY!!!
And then I pick up the phone and find out I'm not the only one contributing water to the river of sorrow. I'm not the only one in pain. I'm not the only one that has to "deal with it" I guess that is why I'm so obsessed with the reality of everlasting life. You see, the river of sorrow dries up at Heaven's Gates. Am I going to find an answer to my dilemna here on earth - probably not. But life on earth isn't the end of the story. I find comfort not in my coping skills in this life, but in the grace of God that leads me to a home where there are no tears.
Ruby's Mission Statement
I discovered a list I wrote not that long ago.
It had on it "I wanna do, I wanna be" and then the following ABC's. Here's the list (with a couple changes.)
A -
Adore Christ
B - be a
Blessing
C - be
Creative
D - be a
Dreamer
E -
Encourage others
F -
Facilitate healing
G - be a
Giver
H - give
Hugs
I - be an
Inspiration
J - be
Joyful
K - be
Kind
L -
Laugh
M -
Model agape love
N - be
Near to others
O - be an
Overcomer
P -
Pray
Q - be e
Quipped for service
R - be
Radical
S -
Share myself and be a
Servant
T -
Teach
U - be
Understanding
V - be
Victorious
W - be
Wise
X - pursue e
Xcellence
Y - be
Yielded to Christ
Z - be
Zealous for Christ
May I look back every so often at this list and find that those things that I wanted have become fruit in my life.
thoughts on love
What's the best definition of love? The word has become so distorted in our North American culture. I can love ice cream, my cat and my mother all in the same breath. The funny thing is I used to love ice cream as a child and as an adult, I lost my taste for it. I "loved" my cat, but when he pooped on my bed, I kicked him out of the house. I love my mother, but did I ever have to choose to love her, or has that been the easiest thing for me to do since I was an embryo.
What about the love that takes work? What about that one person that you want to love but he is the most irritating, obnoxious, misunderstanding creature God could have created. What then becomes the definition of love?
Check out 1 Corinthians 13 in the bible... you might find the answer there.
