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Seven Singles Who Inspire
Readers sing the praises of their singleness role models
November 8, 2006
A Beautiful Second Act
My aunt returned to her faith later in life after a couple of broken marriages. What God has done with her life is amazing. At almost 70, she's the epitome of the single woman I want to become. She's an editor for a Christian women's organization and just returned from her fourth trip to Israel in the last couple of years to work on filming a documentary.
She's a prayer warrior who ministers to me on a regular basis. When we get together, we have to block the entire day because there's just so much of God's goodness to catch up on in each other's lives and so much to pray about for our family. She still has hope that a man of faith will be added to her life, but she's also serving God wholeheartedly as a single woman.
I model my relationship with my nephews after my relationship with her. I'm grateful to have the freedom and time to pick up and go hang out with them for the weekend whenever I want. It's a blessing to have lives to invest in, and my aunt has shown me how to joyfully invest in the lives God brings to you.
Gretchen
Longing Yet Living Full
My son, Rodney, is 38, and he's never been married. He's a role model for other singles and for me, a widow. The main thing I learn from Rodney is to be content in whatever stage of life we find ourselves in. I know he'd love to be married, but he never complains about his life.
Rodney has a great job traveling the world as part of our church missions program. He's very outgoing and has many friends and a full life. However, I see the times when he longs for something more. At Halloween he took his five-year-old niece, Hallie, trick-or-treating with tears in his eyes as he wondered if he would ever do that with a daughter of his own.
In Rodney I see a person who's a mentor/friend/role model to many, who still has unfulfilled dreams, but who continues to live a life above reproach, fighting the good fight. I taught Rodney as a child, and now he, as an adult, teaches me so much about life. I'm grateful for him and the influence he has on others—and on me.
Miriam
God's Faithful Servant
Glady is the sweetest and most adorable little old lady. At my former church, she served as the pastor of the senior's ministry. When I met her, she was well into her 80s. You've never truly been hugged unless you've had a Glady hug. I'd known her for years, but it wasn't until I joined the church staff that I got to know her story.
When Glady was a young woman, she had a beau. She also had a calling to go to the mission field. In those days, women were expected to get married, have babies, and keep a home while the husband worked, but Glady knew she must follow God's call. She left her home, her family, and her boyfriend as a young woman and headed to Africa. Her boyfriend didn't share her calling, and their relationship ended. While Glady had the option to go home and marry her young man, she felt bound to follow her God-given purpose in life.
Glady spent more than 50 years as a missionary in Africa, learning to speak Swahili fluently and ministering to their people. Glady never married or had children. Sometime in her 70s, she moved back to the U.S. and continued to minister to the people with whom she came in contact. There isn't an ounce of bitterness or regret in her voice as she shares her story. Though she had no children of her own, she dotes on her nieces and nephews, as well as the children in the church. Glady has now retired from her position in the church (as she easily crept past the 90-year mark), but still attends church faithfully and has even made two additional mission trips to Africa.
Instead of focusing on what she never had, Glady has shown that a life spent serving God has immeasurable rewards. When I think about still being single and wondering if the ever-elusive husband will be found (along with the subsequent children marriage would hopefully bring), I think about Glady. The peace and joy that floods her soul and radiate from her being are things to aspire to—things to search for that are worth even more than a spouse and kids. While I hope I find a husband and enjoy the blessing of children before I'm 90, I've learned now to seek the greater things with more passion—to be used by God, to touch lives for his eternal kingdom, and to be filled with peace and joy as I journey down the path … no matter if a family walks with me, or if I walk it alone.
Tricia
Leading the Way
One of the best single role models I know is my former neighbor. We went to the same church for three years. During part of that time she was my small group leader, and eventually I became her assistant. I now lead a small group of my own, and I learned a lot of how to lead from her example and mentoring.
While I was in her group, she also ran for the Australian senate (and was nearly elected), served on the committee of our singles ministry, sang backing vocals at church, and was involved in mentoring indigenous people. I can't imagine how she could have accomplished all of this and served as a Christian example to myself and many others if she hadn't been single. Seeing her example taught me what's possible with God and challenged me to set a higher standard.
Peter
An Adventurous Spirit
Luci Swindoll is the best role model for living the Great Adventure. She's a real inspiration to many through her books and her speaking with the Women of Faith conferences. She's passionate and excited about everything she does and sees; and she does fun stuff like taking a photo cruise to Antarctica and hot-air ballooning on safari in Africa. She's sung with the opera, written books, and on and on—and laughed through it all!
Trudi
Loving the Least of These
My daughter, Raegan, is a 32-year-old single missionary in Romania. She's a registered nurse, and had a career in a Southern California hospital until she took a short missions trip to Romania in 1996. During that trip she felt God call her to give her life and training for that country. God also gave her a passion and a love for Romania that's hard to explain.
Six years ago she started working with abandoned street children, often going down into the sewers where they live in the winter to keep warm. Now she leads a ministry called Touched Romania, which cares for abandoned babies. Last year Unicef reported there were 4,000 abandoned babies in Romania.
Presently she's back in the U.S. to raise money to purchase a building where they can help mothers to keep their babies by providing a place for them to live for a year, and training them for jobs. Raegan is a beautiful girl (of course I'm biased!), and people are always asking why she isn't married. I pray the Lord will send her the right man and ministry partner in his time.
Pat
The Good Son
My son, Jason, is 26, owns his own house, attends school during the day, and works nights. His attitude is what makes him my role model. When I'm feeling unlucky in love or just plain lonely, I look at him. He doesn't wallow in sorrow; he gets on with life. Jason loves the outdoors and hikes regularly with his new digital camera. Then he shares his panoramic photos over the Internet with people who may never see those natural gifts from God. He plays musical instruments, builds cars and motorcycles, and has a close relationship with his brother and many long-time friends. Jason is focused, has solid priorities, and stays the course.
Recently I e-mailed him, thanking him for being an inspiration to me in terms of our shared singleness. He replied with the greatest compliment anyone could have given me. He told me he was flattered to think he was an inspiration to me, but that felt strange to him—being a role model to his mother. He said that rather than a role model, he thought of himself as a reflection of his mom because it was I who gave him the characteristics I so admire in him.
Kathy
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