Single for the Holidaysنموونە

I love a good Hallmark Christmas movie. In the first five minutes, I can already predict the love interest and of course, the story always ends with the hometown hero (wearing a Christmas flannel no doubt) getting the girl of his dreams against all odds, but not without some sort of debacle with her city-boy ex. Sadly, the reality of our holiday experience as singles isn't quite as charming.

But what if being single is actually a gift. I mean the kind of gift you actually get excited about. The problem is most of us treat singleness like a gift we want to exchange. You know what I'm talking about. You open a box on Christmas day thinking it's going to be exactly what you asked for only to be disappointed in finding yet another pair of fuzzy socks and bath bombs or for the guys, another tie and shaving cream. "I loveeeee it," you exclaim, but the blank look on your face says it all. It's not what you wanted. And it's ok to feel that way. 

The holidays have a way of making us feel an extra dose of disappointment as our society saturates us with images of families being together, Christmas tree shopping with significant others, and building snowmen with children. There are about ten times as many jewelry ads for diamond rings with catchphrases that only get cheesier, "Every kiss begins with Kay,"  thank you, goodnight. Who are the guys that decided Christmas was prime time for getting engaged anyways? I'd like to have a word with those fellas and Santa Clause for that matter. I'm thirty-one, Santa and the mistletoe isn't working. We need a North Pole miracle to find me a man at this point!

All of these beautiful moments added up can often make us feel like we have nothing. That feeling is real, but maybe, just maybe, the joy you're looking for isn't found in getting the gift you asked for, but in realizing the very much you have right in front of you. God has an exciting plan for you in this season. You don't have to dreadfully get through the holidays. You can actually enjoy them and celebrate them in a whole new way!

The following devotional is adapted from my new book, 'Single Shouldn't Suck'. It took me a LONG time, but God opened my eyes to see the gift singleness truly is. Through these next few days, I believe God wants to show you how to find joy in being single during the holidays and how to create moments that are worth celebrating. Psalm 68:6 says, "God sets the lonely in families..." If you're lonely, you're in the right place. God has a family for you whether you're married or not. The story He has for you will make the Hallmark movies jealous, I guarantee it!