love + singledom on christmas

“It’s a guy.”

I told her about the new friend I had made and the words barely left my lips before I heard exactly what I was expecting…

“oooOOOoOOOoh.”

“And we shall consider him a new friend, a brother in Christ, not a potential soul mate.”

I said it again. I had already had the same reaction from another friend and I then later would hear it again.

I am not sure what it is but it seems this season of singleness has turned all of my friends into matchmakers.  {Despite that I’m not even on the market nor do I want to be. Life is currently blissfully simple.}

Now…hear me say, this is not a complaint. When the time comes, yes. I mean yes, 100% on board, full throttle, yes.

I have some pretty great friends and I can only be left to imagine that their friends are also particularly awesome. So I have simply asked just to hold onto the pause button for a moment.

My problem lies in what seems to be this implication that I am unhappy as I am. Alone. Single. 

[None of my friends or family have said this outloud and I know they all mean well. Do not get this confused with a fam and friends bash sesh.]

The truth is, in the middle of what I consider one of the most romantic times of the year, I am not only content but perfectly joyful!

{Shocker. I know. That’s Jesus, people.}

It is no secret around here that fall is my ultimate favorite time of year, followed closely by winter. {I know it’s weird. Move along.} And when Christmas carols begin, hot chocolate becomes more socially acceptable to drink…all. the. time., twinkly lights begin popping up everywhere (do not even get me started on my affinity for twinkly lights) and whether you’re sitting on a couch or strolling down the sidewalks it is much more acceptable, if not recommended, that you pull in close to those you love, {Hashtag body heat is awesome.}

…this time of year can often be dreary.

In the spirit of full honesty, which you know is what we’re all about here, it can be sad some days. A favorite song comes on, or a scent takes me to another time in history when things weren’t as they are now, and for a moment grief beckons me come.

But that is not the norm for most days and I would like to believe for all of my other single peeps out there that despair, loneliness, and grief is also not the norm.

(Yes. I said peeps.)

However, I am not jaded or delusioned enough to believe that I am the only one who is either perfectly content or wearily discontent where they are relationally (or circumstantially, or physically, or financially, or emotionally, etc.)

So as the celebration of the birth of Jesus approaches, the celebration of grace Himself, Love as a baby, perhaps we take a moment to consider all of those around us, single or otherwise, and appreciate and love them right where they are.

This life can be brutal, I mean brutal. We place so many outrageous pressures, expectations, and emotional prisons in our own lives. That combined with all of the life circumstances that are simply out of our control, well…it can be hard and painful.

So as you rush the malls, prepare the cookies, and wrap the gifts some…families will be spending their time in hospitals, some will be without anyone to celebrate with, others will feel they have nothing to celebrate, and some will be overwhelmed with grief for the circumstances they have found themselves in this year.

As a love token to us all, let us each be a little kinder, 

let us place more value on someone knowing about the birth of Jesus than us getting the last _____ (insert hot item here…T. Swift’s new album perhaps? She’s basically taking over the world.)