I don't normally post religious things. I find my own personal take on religion to be.....quirky at time. However, I recently saw an article floating around the web that was written by what I assume is a 20 something single lady. It was how she felt single women need to be loved on by married persons in a church congregation. You can read it here. I found parts of the article to be sound theory and spot on, while other parts were, shall we say misguided. By the end of the article, I was also thinking, why are there so many separate "groups" in a church and how we all need to be loved on, not just one group. So here is my humble rebuttal (based on my life and experiences) and also a simple blue print on how you can love on anyone in your church congregation....or anyone in the world.
In response to “Six ways to Love Single Women:"
1. Words are hurtful. People should choose their words carefully, I agree. God has many reasons for not bringing you
that “someone” yet. He obviously has
more work for you to do as a single woman/man.
He may never bring you that someone.
I know that is hard to hear, and I’d like to think he wouldn’t give you
the desire if you are never meant to be married. However, we have all met the
arch enemy, the devil. I advise you to
give yourself wholly to the Lord. Read
the Bible, pray and be the Lord’s tool.
Stay busy for the Lord and IF it’s meant to happen, it will. If not, then I doubt you’ll notice because
the Lord will be filling you with an unimaginable amount of joy for following
His will.
“Because you, Lord, bless the righteous. You
cover them with favor like a shield.” Psalms 5:12
2.
I agree that we should not attempt to “fix”
anyone. Empathy is important. Encouragement, especially biblical, is
vital. However, sometimes people may
sharpen or challenge an individual whose desires are not being granted. I like
the suggestion that when asked by a single person, to pray with them for a
spouse. However, I would LOVE for the
advice to be to pray with the individual that God grant them peace and
understanding during this time in their life.
Pray that if now is not the time to seek a spouse, that God will
diminish this desire and replace it with a desire that is fitting to His will. However, single ladies (and gentleman) we
need to know that you are fighting such battles, to know that you need and want
to be prayed over and for.
“Don’t be anxious about anything; rather,
bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with
giving thanks. Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep
your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
“No temptation has seized you that isn’t common for people. But God is faithful. He won’t allow you to be tempted beyond your abilities. Instead, with the temptation, God will also supply a way out so that you will be able to endure it.”1Corinthians 10: 13
3.
Asking about a person’s day to day life is a
wonderful way to invest in a person.
However, the gesture should be reciprocated. Married folks need to be checked on as
well. We want/need to be asked about our
day/spouses/kids as well. Single people,
if you are wanting more people in your life, don’t wait for them to come
seeking you. SEEK them. Start by sending a text to a married person
asking about their day. Chances are,
they will reciprocate. They will start
checking in and asking about you and your life.
Married people, I’m not saying you’re off the hook until a single person
seeks you out, we should all be seeking each other out. Neither side should be sitting back and
waiting to be found by the other. Why
are we on different sides anyway??
“No one should look out for their own
advantage, but they should look out for each other.” 1 Corinthians 10:24
4.
Affirmation is desired by all. Single girls, I understand your need to be
told you are pretty. Single gentleman,
that you look nice. However, this is
true of all males and females. Don’t
assume that a married woman will get all dressed up and then be doted on by her
husband. Haven’t you ever heard the old
adage about a woman drastically changing her hair and the husband not
noticing? It is true. Nothing hurts a married woman more than her
husband not acknowledging (I’m told that they do notice, they just don’t always verbally
or otherwise affirm) her efforts. Also,
you may have had a full hour to get dressed.
A woman with small children may have had 15 very interrupted
minutes. She does not feel put together,
her hair may be up, simply because it is unwashed. The married woman needs to hear she looks
pretty, just as much as the single girls.
I imagine the same goes for the gentleman.
“What I mean is that we can mutually
encourage each other while I am with you. We can be encouraged by the faithfulness
we find in each other, both your faithfulness and mine.” Romans 1:12
5.
Single women and men, I would love to fellowship
with you, to disciple you. However, if I
invite you over to my house, it will be for dinner, lunch or coffee. It will not be for wine, dinner and a movie
after the kids go to bed. I’ll be going
to bed soon after the kids. They will be
up by 6am. Please note: I did not say at
6 am, I said BY 6 am. After the kids are
in bed: ISN’T. GOING. TO. HAPPEN. Also,
I don’t mind your small apartment and roommate. In fact, I’d like to meet your
roommate. Why not invite the woman with
small kids over for coffee. She would
love to get out of her house. She would
also love not having to clean up her house for you to come over. Have you ever tried to clean up after a 2
year old? You have no idea how much work
she put into her house before you came over and then still apologized because
it still wasn’t as clean as it used to be before kids. Also, a side note: The reason your pastor may encourage you to seek out folks in a "life stage ahead" of you: because you are to be seeking Godly counsel from the people who you want to be like. He is encouraging you to find women/men who are doing something you admire and wish to learn from. You may not wish to learn from every wife/mother. You may choose to seek out someone who is in missions instead of married...they are still a "life stage ahead" because they are already doing what you desire.
“And they were continually
devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42
6.
God calls us to be generous with all that we
have. I’m sure it would be nice to be
given the items on wedding registry.
News flash, most newly-weds don’t receive all the items on their wish
list. They get towels. I’ve been married for almost eight years and I still
don’t have a mixer. I own 2 skillets and 3
pots. I do have 2 sets of dishes, one
from Wal-Mart (that I actually got when I was in college, before I was even dating my now spouse) and one from Target. Most
of the married couples in your congregation don’t have the money to give you
new items. They don’t have the money to
buy themselves new ones and give you the hand me downs (though, if they did,
I’m sure they wouldn’t mind passing them along). I had more disposable money as a single
person, than I do as a married woman. As
a single woman, I could eat ramen noodles, spaghetti and sandwiches for a week
if I needed to buy a new gadget. Not so
much once I was responsible for feeding a meat eating man and small growing
humans. Rent and your electric bill
can’t compare with a mortgage, property taxes, child care, dance and
baseball. A single person has one income
for one person. We have two incomes for
four people. You do the math. I will, however, be happy to show you how to
coupon and cook with the resources you do have.
I will be happy to give you my time and knowledge. Just ask.
“It is more blessed to give than receive.”
Acts 20:35
As for how we can love on EVERYONE in our congregation (or workplace/neighborhood/etc), it
really is quite simple.
1.
Make it a point to ask about their lives. Ask if you can check in with them during the
week. Friend/Follow them on social media. Get their email. Stay in contact. Many feel disconnected between Sunday's. Especially the newbies.
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35
2.
Affirm the person’s value. Once you get to know the person, ask their
advice on a matter they have knowledge about. People in general want to know that they have value, that they have something to offer.
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11
3.
Serve that person. Bring them a meal, offer to baby sit (set a
concrete time, otherwise the parents may never ask. It is awkward asking
someone to watch your kids for free), mow their grass. Find out how you can serve them best and then
do it!
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:"1 Peter 4:10
4.
Find out the person’s love language, and use
it. Do they value time? quality conversations?
"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love Honor one another above yourselves." Ephesians 4:32
5.
Listen.
Encourage. Sharpen. When someone is struggling, be careful of your
words. Lift them up. Encourage them. Share your own similar stories. And when
necessary, sharpen them for the Lord. We all have problems and short comings in our lives that we feel isolate us. But the truth is: many have been, currently are, or will eventually battle the same problems.
“May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be blessed! He is the compassionate Father and God of all comfort. He’s the one who comforts us in all our trouble so that we can comfort other people who are in every kind of trouble. We offer the same comfort that we ourselves received from God.”2Corinthians 1:3-4
6.
Pray with them and for them. So very simple, yet so powerful.
“But you, dear friends: build each other up on the foundation of your most holy faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, keep each other in the love of God, wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will give you eternal life.” Jude 1:20-21
The truth of the matter, is we are all not that different,
no matter what stage of life we are in.
One stage of life should not be pitted against another in a church. No matter who is in your congregation:
singles, marrieds, single parents, married worshipping alone; they need your
love and support no matter who YOU are.
Be sensitive to each other’s situation and limitations and we can all
fellowship together.
“Be firm in your faith and resist him, because you know that your
fellow believers in all the world are going through the same kind of
sufferings.” 1 Peter 5:9
P.S. I'll have another blog post soon about why I've been silent for 2 weeks and all the new happenings in my life. Then I'll get back on track. ;)
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