Thankful Thursday Week #4:Topic-Spouse

I suppose this weeks topic could technically be changed since I lack a spouse. But I will keep the topic and have challenged myself to look for ways I am grateful in the absence of a spouse.
If you have no idea why I am writing about this..check out the challenge!

If I had a spouse:

1) I may not have travelled to Mexico, Belize, Nicaragua, Honduras, South Korea, Hong Kong, South Africa, Uganda, France, Spain, Haiti, Dominican Republic, England, Hungary, Romania, Kenya, Ecuador, Nepal, India, Thailand, Jamaica, or The Cayman Islands... I've seen so much of the world, I know which cultures tug at my heart and which ones push me to my limits. I have seen the face of God in the faces of the nations. I have seen where He is at work and know what worshiping Him sounds like in many tongues.

2) I would need to consult with someone those times when I wanted to visit a friend, spend $, go hiking, take a vacation, buy a plane ticket....instead I (not always faithfully) consult the Lord and talk these things over with Him. I mean the spouse would need dinner at night, you know, I couldn't really just say "I'm going to go and spend time with so and so, sorry you are on your own."

3) My time would be divided. I have ample free time to spend with the Lord when I choose to spend it that way. I've had to learn to lean.

4) I might only know how to live with one personality (except my family of course) instead I've gotten to learn to live with many personality types and have had my life enriched by my roommates through the years: Autumn, Audrey, Amanda, Miranda, Shana, Shawnie, Brianna, YWAM school roommates (14 was a lot to list), The Dearings, Amy, Alli, Stacy, and Sarah.

5) I might have more gray hair than I do.

6) I might not have the relationships with my nieces and nephews. I mean firstly, if I had a spouse I would probably have kids of my own. Being a single aunt means that my nieces and nephews get gifts, time, and conversation that likely would not happen otherwise. It also means that I able to be here in New England when my brand new little niece Vivienne Alice was born TODAY! :)


For these reasons I am choosing Thankfulness for my single life. Today, it is a gift from Jesus that I embrace. Today is the day for looking at the upside. Thankful Thursday.