Especially for the Unmarried
Courtship for the fatherless generation: how to get on the right track?
You have suffered the consequences of our culture. Maybe, like me, you grew up without even knowing your father, without a proper example of a good, godly marriage, and without being taught anything about God's plan for relationships between men and women. Most likely you already had painful dating experience; maybe you suffered abuse and neglect, or had to face the Peter Pan syndrome of men who 'aren't ready for commitment' at 40. Maybe you even come from an abusive marriage, unsure you will ever be able to rebuild your life. Fear not, and trust in Him. I don't know you, but I know your heart can be renewed, because nothing is impossible to our loving God. [This is one of the best articles we have ever seen on this most important topic. It's appropriate for older teens, but not for very young readers.]

"That's not fair! She has one and I don't! Why is it that she always gets something nice and I never do?!" These reactions sound like quite an unhappy little girl, and we are often taken back by hearing such a ruckus. But do we realize that sometimes we, as young women, say the same thing? Surely not in the same words or with such an emphatic tone of voice, but as I have gotten older, I have heard so many young ladies express these same things: "Am I ever going to get married? Will I be doomed to spinsterhood? All my friends are getting married and here am I, all by myself!"

Our Holy God will give us our heart's desires and bring our ways to pass, if we but delight, trust in, and commit ourselves to Him! Ah, but what a big "if" that is. Our foolish, sinful, fallen natures so want to have their own way that it is hard for us to even trust our lives to the loving hands of our heavenly Father.

"Singleness." Just the word can bring shudders and dread to a person�s heart--especially if she is unmarried.

Just as a bride looks forward to being with her groom and delights to please him, the Bride of Christ (all Christians) should await the coming of Her Groom, which is Christ. While we are single, how can we best prepare ourselves to demonstrate to a skeptical world the beauty of marriage? By turning towards our father, giving him our heart, striving to please him and delighting in his company.

�Lord! Why are all the girls my age falling in love and getting married (or so it feels), and I have no one? How can I survive this painful thing called singleness, especially when so many friends are getting married?� Every girl cries these words at some point; most of us must face them again�and again�and again. How do I best live this unasked-for life of singleness?

While in His wisdom God sees it fit for me to be single-�for now or forever--He has given me something instead to focus my love upon. Having no brothers and sisters, loneliness might have lurked around the corner were it not for this great, magnificent gift: friendship.

People often ask me what I am doing now that I am finished with my formal academics. I happily reply, �Training to be the best wife, mother and homemaker I can be.� And what better way to be trained and prepared than to continue practicing those household skills that my mother has so carefully taught me�right here at home?

Miss Teat shares her suggestions for making time at home profitable for study, for helping others, and for growing closer to God and family.

Miss McEntire takes a look at the problem of impatience while single.