Real Relationships: Being Single

All the single ladies! All the...no, let's not go there.  Hello to all my fellow single people out there!  Or maybe you're not single!  Either way, HELLO!  But, to all my singles out there, do you think your life isn't complete because you don't have a significant other?  Think again!  I'm here to show you that being single isn't all that bad!  Sure it might be lonely and the only dates you go on are the ones where you're sitting on the couch with a packet of Oreos watching reruns of Downton Abbey and Doctor Who in your sweatpants... hey, first of all, that sounds way better than having to get all dressed up and go out somewhere for a date.  If someone asks me out (probably never but that's beside the point), he'd better be cool with some dates involving my couch and sweatpants.  I think staying in and watching movies together is a better date than spending money anyway.  Okay, now that we have all that out of the way, let's get into the good stuff!

Song of Solomon, Chapter 3

All night long on my bed

    I looked for the one my heart loves;

    I looked for him but did not find him.

² 

I will get up now and go about the city,

    through its streets and squares;

I will search for the one my heart loves.

    So I looked for him but did not find him.

³ 

The watchmen found me

    as they made their rounds in the city.

    “Have you seen the one my heart loves?”

⁴ 

Scarcely had I passed them

    when I found the one my heart loves.

I held him and would not let him go

    till I had brought him to my mother’s house,

    to the room of the one who conceived me.

⁵ 

Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you

    by the gazelles and by the does of the field:

Do not arouse or awaken love

    until it so desires.

This is possibly my favorite passage about finding love.  This woman is wandering around, looking for her love.  She eventually finds him, and they live long, happy lives together.  The perfect love story.  I especially like the last verse: "Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires."  Hmm.  Let's talk about this one for a bit.

Boyfriend.  Girlfriend.  I love her.  I love him.  She said he said I said this.  I'm breaking up with you.

STOP.  ENOUGH.

I am 17 and I am sick of hearing this.  So many people my age are in and out of relationships so fast I don't even know who's dating who anymore.  If you are in a happy relationship with someone, congratulations, I wish you the best.  If you find someone who truly makes you happy and you think he could be the one, go for it.  The only problem I have with dating is when people date just so they can say "I'm dating."  Please, don't try to say, "You're so wrong because he's the perfect guy and we are gonna live happily ever after and you don't know what you're talking about and--" Lemme stop ya right there.  First of all, you're (probably) still in high school.  You haven't even lived 1/4 of your life yet.  You think this man...guy...boy..is the one for you even though you have so much life let to live?  I'm sorry but from what I've seen, high school relationships don't last.  More often then not the couple drifts apart with college and simply life and they eventually find someone else.  No offense to those in high school relationships, but stop and think.

God has a perfect man or woman out there for you.  One day, He will lead you two to each other.  Yes, it might be in high school.  However, you can't rush true love.  You'll know when the time is right.  Don't say yes to the first boy who asks you out.  Don't ask a girl out because she's "hot".  Take your time with love.  Believe me, it will be worth the wait.

I personally have never dated.  Never be asked, never asked anyone.  Didn't even ask my best guy friend to act as my date for the prom.  17 years and always single.  But guess what?  I've been happy, happy, happy.  Yes, I've been lonely a few times, but maybe my girl Tori Kelly can help me out:

But I'd love to have a soulmate 

God will give him to me someday

& I know it’ll be worth the wait

So if you’re out there I swear to be good to you

But I’m done lookin’, for my future someone

Cause when the time is right

You’ll be here, but for now

Dear no one, this is your love song

But sometimes, I just want somebody to hold

Someone to give me their jacket when its cold

Got that young love even when we’re old

Yeah sometimes, I want someone to grab my hand

Pick me up, pull me close, be my man

I will love you till the end.

Tori Kelly - Dear No One

There you have it.  This is exactly how I feel.  Sure, I want to find my man as much as the next girl.  However, I'm not willing to give my heart to just anyone.  He's gonna be a real special guy because God will give us to each other.  Hopefully.  Lord willing I will find my man but you never know.  Love is a tricky thing, but it's beautiful.  There is someone out there for you, I promise.  Just give it time and a little patience and I promise it will be worth the wait.  Your soulmate is going to make you the happiest person in the world.  Anytime you ever feel lonely, just remember.  Remember that God knows, and when the time is right you will know, too.  Stay single and crazy until that time!  Have fun! Enjoy yourself in the singleness!  Hey, 17 years and I'm still going strong, just waiting for my perfect guy.  

The most romantic story isn't Romeo and Juliet.  It's when Grandma and Grandpa grew old together.  That's the love story I hope I have.

Thanks for reading!

Sarah Beth

Philippians 1:20-21