It's OK....

....to be single.

It is a reoccurring theme that I have to assure people of (regarding myself) all the time and this weekend it was also the "theme" of my lessons to a couple hundred high school girls. Each year Faulkner hosts 'Jewels', which is a high school girls retreat. I was one of five speakers this year and had to speak four times on Saturday. My (obviously assigned) lesson title was "Mister Right...Not Right Now: God's Timing", basically...God's timing with His gift of LOVE...

Now, I have taught a few Bible classes to this age, especially at camp during the summers but always in smaller groups and more interactive settings. But standing up in front of four different groups of high school age girls is slightly intimidating, to say the least. I think it went ok but this is just a tough topic. Believe me, I know that it is NOT taught in the church of Christ that it is OK to be a single woman. I could just see them sitting there looking at me like, "Well, good for you but no thank you. I DO NOT want to be 28 and single." Like there is no worse thing in the world. I have had to fight it the past 8 or so years from not only younger girls but older women too!

Great example.....
As most of you know I went home to Valdosta two weeks ago. While I was there a woman I have known almost my whole life said to another family friend, "That Laurie is such a pretty girl, it's just too bad she's not married." Like I WAS pretty with the exception of that big, nasty wart of singleness right in the middle of my face! :^) I KNOW this is not how she meant it (because I KNOW her and know she just thinks marriage is better than any alternative) but I get stuff like this ALL the time. Seriously, one day I am going to have the time to just sit down and blog on quotes of STUPID things people say to me all time!

Anyways, I digress..... The thing I wanted to get across to these girls is just the opposite of what I have always gotten from everyone (VERY IMPORTANT SIDE NOTE: when I use "always" and "everyone" I mean 'everyone' BUT my immediate family and Walker side of non immediate). It was a tough sell but I think I got through to a couple, because they came up to me and told me so :)

It was fun and I am glad that I got the opportunity to do it. I was sad though that it kept me from going home for Homecoming and seeing the last of the Walker cousins who will be graduating from GCS. It's kind of a sad day for the Walkers, who have, to say the least, a very long history there. Congratulations to Sam though, who looked BEAUTIFUL!

Last thing and off subject, please continue to remember Officer Broadway from MPD who is still in critical condition after his accident last week, while on duty. Please remember him, his doctors, his family and friends, and his "brothers and sisters" who are all struggling eight now. Thanks for your prayers and inquiries about him.