'It’s Not Easy Being Green'

My kids use to love watching Sesame Street. Kermit the frog was known for his song, “It’s Not Easy Being Green.”  Here is the you-tube link to that song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSS9PnU6T8s

The title of this song came to mind after a morning Bible class with single moms. During class, we were talking about the Samaritan Woman in John 4. I’m not sure I can connect the dots for you, regarding how we went from this Bible story to talking about being single, but I’m sure there was a connection and we never seem to lack good reasons for doing so.

Apparently, from what I heard, singles can be harshly judged by their family and friends because of their singleness.  Later, as I reflected upon the class, it occurred to me that those judging have no clue what it’s like to be green, so they attempt to change them to another color, something more in line with what they look like.    

In his song, Kermit says, ‘people tend to pass you over’ because you’re green.  I could really hear the hurt in these ladies voices this morning. They are single moms and for the most part raising their children without the support of a spouse.

Why would family and friends be judgmental about their singleness?

May I suggest ignorance? Perhaps they are so unaware of what it takes to not only be single but to be someone doing it properly; the way God will honor. And so I suggest that because these people feel uneasy about your singleness, they attempt to fix what they sense is your incompleteness. They try to play matchmaker; or they pray that God will bless you with the right person.  Ouch—as if God doesn’t have this under control? (Jeremiah 29:11 ‘For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’)

We know God’s Word honors marriage, but what does it say about singlehood?  The apostle Paul is very vocal about singlehood. He doesn’t say that singles are incomplete people or that they need marital partners to be complete.

Conversely, God shows us through His Word that you can be single and be used mightily by God. We see this time and time again throughout Scripture. We are introduced to Bible characters that were either single for life or widowed without remarriage. Of course the most prominent figure is Jesus. But others include: Moses' sister, Miriam; the prophets Jeremiah, Elijah and Daniel; John the Baptist, widows Naomi and Anna the prophetess,  Mary Magdalene, the sisters Mary and Martha, Lazarus, and the most instructive on the subject of singlehood, the apostle Paul.

If you are single, due to divorce, widowed, or you’ve just never been married, and feeling the pressure to be otherwise by your well intended (or not) family and friends; remember to look at God’s Word. Scripture gives us the blueprint for how to live our lives. We can learn a lot from single people in the Bible and the world can learn a lot from you in your singleness. You can be a role model to others watching you.

 Look how much we can learn from the apostle Paul. In 1 Corinthians 7:8-9, singleness is recommended- ‘…it is good for them to stay unmarried…’

There are advantages to staying single, you can be totally focused on the things of God: 1 Corinthians 7:32-35,40 ‘..an unmarried man (woman) is concerned about the Lord’s affairs – but a married man (woman) is concerned about the affairs of this world…’

The internet records that there is an estimated 2,320,644,660 single people in the world today.

Kermit says ‘Green can be cool and friendly like’  ‘important like a tree.’  ‘It could make you wonder why, so why wonder?’ I’m green and it’s wonderful, it’s what I want to be.’

So be like Kermit and ‘stand out like flashy sparkles in the water.’   Make your life count for something that God will honor as you wait for Him to fulfill His plans in your life.  Right now you are single for a reason. Claim God’s promises and enjoy all that He has to offer you each day.

I found this 'single' quote on the internet:

‘It’s healthy to spend some time alone. You need to know how to be alone and not be defined by another person once in awhile.’  (author unknown)

Until next time~

Blessings, Nancy