by Ashlea Wiley; Guest Writer.
10. A zipper helper.
The awesome dress that you got at Ross on clearance that zips all the way up your back – you know, the one that requires you to flip between a bird pose (arched back with hands behind your waist) and the Quasimodo (pull the dress up so it’s almost over you head so you can reach the zipper…thing). I recently found out that these zipper helpers actually exist and therefore my dreams of being a “For TV Only” inventor were dashed. Only $19.95 plus shipping and handling! I guess I will just stick to my normal Quasi-bird-o routine.
9. A peer advisory board.
I am so thankful for the close friends I have. They encourage me in my relationship with the Lord and even tell me when I am being “a girl” about stuff. I have been blessed in 2012 by gaining some amazing Christian girlfriends here in Tallahassee that have walked with me through difficult times. Does anyone else remember the time when eight of my friends got engaged in a three-week span? Bah!
8. A Makeup-less Monday
I have a deal I made with myself – whenever I feel that I NEED to wear makeup in order to “feel” beautiful; I actually make a choice to not wear it that day. Makeup is not necessary for beauty…at least not the kind I want to be pursuing. Makeup is not a bad thing – I just do not want to be dependent on it for comfort.
7. A shoebox.
I have a shoebox that has letters I have been writing to my future husband ever since I was a senior in High School. It has taken every ounce of self-control I have not to open the old letters up and then tear them up. (I cannot imagine how silly some of them are.) BUT – they are a testimony of God’s glory in how He has sustained me and grown me in my singleness.
6. A place to serve.
Let’s be honest. Singles in churches pretty much get the pick of the litter when it comes to serving. Be thankful for the time you have to serve and get your darling self plugged in. (Or just get plugged in and then you will be thankful!)
5. A “Just Say No to Facebook Stalking” pamphlet.
It’s just awkward when you know more information about someone than any other human being has ever told you – especially when the person you are currently having a conversation with hasn’t told you that they have a dog…and then you mention Fido. Not cool, ladies. Not cool.
4. A “motherly and fatherly” advisory board.
The heartbeats of many churches are Fellowship Groups. What I love most about the one I am plugged into is that I am around other believers who have lived through the stage of life I am in right now. They love me and provide something that peers just cannot provide. This is a must…not a should, girls.
3. A handbook for how to politely respond to the question, “So, how is your love life?”
There have been times when I have been tempted to respond with a, “No takers (except the crazy ones)…but maybe I am crazy! Do you think that is why only the crazy guys ask me out?”
2. A Journal
I kept a journal all through college and I am reminded of just how good God is and has been to me through reading back through it. Sometimes I would write what I was learning in church or who I was praying for and why…and other times I would just write letters to Jesus. (We had some amazing dates at the park!)
1. A sense of humor.
Sometimes I deal with uncomfortable things with laughter…and some of my best and most hilarious stories are about those crazy guys that I mentioned above in # 3. I try to not roll my eyes when people who are at least 4 years younger than me say about their fiancé, “He was so worth the wait.” I know I will say that too when God (who by the way has NEVER failed me or let me down concerning anything in my life!) brings my future husband into my life. For now, I will be thankful for the funny stories I continue to obtain treading the single waters of life.
Ashlea Wiley
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Ashlea is a 28-year-old Assistant Director of Student Ministries at Four Oaks Community Church in Tallahassee, FL. She grew up in Tallahassee but
graduated from Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL where she then taught Kindergarten
for 4 years. Ashlea moved back to Tallahassee in 2009 to help take care of her parents and lives with her two cats, Severus and She-Ra. No, she is not a crazy cat lady…you need a total of 3 cats for that diagnosis to be accurate.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
