Last week, Fred called. Fred is dating one of my dearest friends, Katherine, and I Could. Not. Love. It. More. [You know when two cute people start dating and it just causes the cutest little cloud of hearts to float all around them? Yeah, they have that. Cloudy. Majorly heart-cloudy.]
So, Fred called. And he and Katherine asked me to go on a date with them.
Yep. A date. The three of us. They wanted to pick me up, take me to a nice restaurant, pay for it, and just hang out with me. I didn’t blink. I didn’t pause. I said YES DUH YES!
And we did just that. They came to the front door and knocked, like my dad was going to answer or something. Fred opened our car doors and held the door open at the restaurant. He had already made reservations, so we passed by the lines and lines of people.
We sat and laughed and serious talked and not-serious talked and three hours later, my stomach was blessed and my heart was full. Or the other way around. Or both.
I’m not going to put all my former dates in order from greatest to least, because then, honestly, you would know how many dates I haven’t have been on. But I will say that this one was at or near the top. For sure.
As a [sorta] older single girl, I don’t think Fred and Katherine had any idea what kind of deep work that one event did for my soul. Looking outside of themselves, instead of spending a romantic night alone- maybe at that same table with those same meals- they chose to love their single friend. And let me come along.
It was a great night, but more than that, it was a gift to me.
An investment of hope into my heart. It was life-giving. It was a tide-turner. It was a pleasure.
I wonder… are there single girls/single guys in YOUR life, my married friend? Do you invite him over to dinner? Do you invite her to hang out? Do you make space in your life for the 29 year old single girl in your church who loves to play with your kids and loves to talk to you but maybe needs some TLC? Or the 24 year old college dude who could really benefit from hanging with your family?
Let me share a verse with you-
Psalm 68:6 – “God sets the lonely in families.”
I have loved that verse and prayed it over my life in every city I have ever called home. And God has been [and will be] faithful to me in every city. And He will be for you too.
If you are single, ask for a family.
If you are a family/couple, ask God to bring a single.
And watch as God’s Word comes alive in your home.
I’m not trying to change how you live your life. I just wanted to share this story. Because an Annie could live in your town, be in your life. I don’t want you the miss the chance to step into that place with her. For her.
She’ll never forget it.
Leave a Comment
Kristen@Moms Sharpening Moms says
Oh Annie…this convicts me! I will definitely pray for God to send my family someone single. Heaven knows what we’ve been missing! Thank you for your perspective here.
Caroline says
That was so lovely, Annie! I really want to walk this out and will be praying for the Lord to give me fresh eyes for this very reason. It was good for me to hear this. Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing honestly…it’s so much easier to encourage others and act like we have it all together than to get real! Thanks for being real here! 🙂
Elizabeth@LongToLove says
Annie, I love this post! What a gift your friends gave you!
As always, thank you for the wonderful encouragement and the reminder that God is faithful to set the lonely in families!
Ms. Random says
Thank you so much for this post. Being a single girl myself, I completely get how having a perfect night with a couple you love can actually lift your spirits. (It even puts a renewed hope for my future husband back into my heart.)
Thank you for sharing!
emily says
What a perfectly beautiful post, Annie. I’m gonna start praying for my own Annie’s today.
Kelly Langner Sauer says
such a sweet, beautiful gesture – this made me cry! oh, we so need this out there! wonderful post, Annie!
bob says
What a wonderfully clear description of a beautiful event! You make me feel it.
There is never enough friendship in the world – thanks for the encouragement to make some…
Robin ~ PENSIEVE says
Annieeeee…
I love it. I love that Fred called & that you said yes & that you shared this slice of your life. So often, we presume and assume wrongly: “NO single person would wanna hang out with my married-with-family family.”
You’ve set the record straight; and seeded a new way of thinking.
Good job.
Jackie says
Annie- This was a fabulous perspective. It definitely got me thinking outside of myself, and I love that. Thank you!
Claire says
What a great post! Thank you for reminding me to remember my single friends.
Cxx
sheryl says
this was fantastic! as a single again person it is so great to be included in other’s lives and plans. thanks for the reminder to be looking for the singles that are all around me. loved the verse!
Kathleen_overby@verizon.net says
This reached down deep. Looking at love from both sides. All angles.
This is the body when it isn’t crippled and handicapped. If there was a post that I wish would go ‘viral’, this one is it. 🙂 RT it twitterers!
Gussy says
Annie ~
this post is super amazing and beautifully shows the huge chunk of Jesus in their hearts. i’m so happy for you that you experienced such a great evening with them :]
XO!
Sherri says
Amen!!
As a single person, it does get lonely and it is nice to be invited to things with your married friends. We don’t want to be a burden or be included alllll the time, we don’t want to feel like third wheel. But an occational invite is great! And if I ever am blessed to find someone to share my life with, I already have told my single and married friends that I want them to continue to be a part of my life.
Kristine McGuire says
Thank you so much for sharing this because it really opens my eyes. I don’t know why (as a married person) it’s not been a priority of mine to draw single people into our family but from now on I’m going to keep my eyes open for opportunities.
Laurel says
We have an Annie and she is such a blessing to us, so it goes both ways. It was such an encouragement to read this post. Thank you. You have me on the hunt for more!
Deb says
Annie, I loved this. And I agree w/ Sherri. I’m widowed and really miss my couples friends. It is so nice when we do find time to hang out. I lost my husband and don’t want to loose friends too.
Thank you.
Deb
Beth Current says
Annie,
I HAVE that – in abundance. The majority of them are MY CELL GROUP (including your folks). A small story – we had visitors to cell group one night (we have a LARGE cell group). Jane was introducing everyone to the new couple;p “this is Pam, she belongs to Tom”, etc. when she came to me (as the only single 29+++++ lady) she said; “this is Beth”, and Joyce immediately said “and she belongs to ALL OF US”. Talk about being BLESSED! I couldn’t speak!! God’s Love…………..
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