Spring Break 2007: Day 5, Final Attempt

March 31, 2007 - Saturday

Spring Break 2007: Day 5, Final Attempt Current mood: contemplative Category: Romance and Relationships Out of the mouths of babes (just when you think you can't feel any more pathetic about your relationship status) come the most thought provoking comments. It's 8:30 PM Friday night and I'm working at my brother's house doing the A/P & A/R for his business. My youngest nephew, Joseph, is playing Hoyle Casino Texas Hold 'Em on one computer and I am addressing envelopes at the other desk. I don't remember how the conversation starts, I just recall him suddenly saying, "It's because you can't get a date, right? That's why you're not married?" I look up from my envelopes, mouth agape, eyes the size of saucers, and take a huge, deep breath. "What?" I ask, turning to look at him. He looks at me matter of factly and says again, "You can't get a date, that's why you're not married and don't have any kids." I blink a few times, look up and to the side and back to Joseph. I'm stumped. I chew on the inside of my cheek for a second and then offer this, "Joseph, I can get dates. I actually am asked out every now and then, but your Aunt Steph is really picky about who she goes out with. The Bible says we're not supposed to be unequally yoked which means people who believe differently in the big things shouldn't get married...having really really big differences causes a lot of problems in marriage. The guys who usually ask me out don't believe the way that you and I do, and for that reason I'm still single." Joseph looks at me like he isn't sure I'm telling him everything and then he asks, "So it's not because you don't like guys?" I literally almost fall out of my chair laughing, "No honey, it's not because I don't like guys. I like guys a LOT! I just haven't found the right one for me. I'm kind of like Paul in the Bible, do you know who he is?" Joseph scrunches up his nose and proclaims defiantly, "No, I don't read the Bible." Once again, I almost fall out of my chair, "You don't? Joseph what does Jesus say about reading the Bible?" He mumbles "You should read it..." "Okay, so why don't you read it? Why don't you know who Paul is?" "I can't read!" At this point Joseph hides behind the back of the office chair so I can't see him anymore. "Oh my goodness! What does Jesus say about telling untrue stories?" I hear him sigh, "Aunt Steph, who the heck was Paul?" I grin, "Paul was one of the Apostles who followed Jesus. The New Testament talks about him. He never got married and never had kids." Joseph peers over the back of the chair, "So you might never get married?" I sigh and say, "Might not." Joseph goes back to his poker game and I am left with my bill paying, shy two envelopes. I'll be okay if I don't get married. I don't have a choice, right? It's not like God gives us our lot in life for the sole purpose of unhappiness. He would never do that; it's not in His nature. Besides that, happiness is situational, it's emotional and doesn't bear witness to the true state of a believer's heart. My mere existence and the fact that He loves me is reason enough for joy. My relationship with Him and the possibilities within the relationship are what provide me with that joy. There will be times when I'll be sad and happy, times when I'll dance and be still, but He will always be my Lord. I will always have joy despite my marital status. If God wants me to be a lifelong Paul then I will really be okay...I'll be more than okay. I'll be blessed beyond measure in ways that only He can bless me. If God simply wants me to be a Paul right now, for this time, then may His will be done in that as well. As His word says in Ecclesiastes 3: (underlines mine) There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.