Life is now

There is something in our society that tells us we cannot be happy until we find the "one" we were meant to spend the rest of our lives with. Movies are filled with it... these miserable single people just waiting for life to start and then the right one comes along and life is suddenly wonderful, their cares are over, and life is good. I've never been married, but I can tell you for a fact from watching the successful marriages that surround me in my parents, grandparents, brother and sister-in-law and the many others that I have been able to witness, the cares and the struggles do not go away with marriage. They give you someone to go through the hard times with so you don't have to do it "alone", but they do not eliminate them. They cannot make you happy. You can find great joy in them, but ultimately happiness is dependent on the choice you make to be happy. 

I think this part is important:   life is now. God gave us this moment right now. I know in my own life hundreds if not thousands of prayers have been prayed for God's will and for the man I will marry, both by me and my family and friends. While I understand very well my own limitations and understand that I don't always have the answers, I can rest assured knowing that my prayers have been heard by the One who not only knows the right way, but loves me enough to withhold the wrong thing even when I (or others for me) really want it.  I don't believe it is in my right, while knowing God is in control, to put my life on hold for the "one" because I don't believe that is why God is giving me the gift of single right now. I do believe it is a gift, and to all my single friends I hope you are able to see the gift in it as well. Not so you can believe you are a little superior to the married people, just like I hope the married people can appreciate the gift of marriage while not deprecating the gift of single.

Regardless of whether we are married or single, life is now. It's not meant to be a time of mourning. It's meant to be a time of service to our Heavenly Father. We can do great things in both situations. Both sides bring their limitations, but they also present their unique opportunities. Take advantage of that fact. Don't let what you don't have be your focus. Focus on the good because there is always good to be found.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." ~Philippians 4:8 (NIV)