It was a bright warm day, the sun's rays beating down upon the small town in the southwestern desert. It wasn't too hot yet, but promised to be by the afternoon.

     I was busy pushing the toddler swing, the little boy in the seat swaying back and forth with the most precious grin on his little face. I'd push him high and he'd say, "'Gin!" The swing would go flying and his giggle could be heard around the yard. "'Gin!" and off into the air he'd go. One of his sisters was swimming in the small pool in the middle of the grass. Splashes of water jumped out of the pool. His other sister was sitting on a chair nearby.

     The five-year-old girl had an inquisitive look on her face. After a few minutes, she voiced what she was thinking. "Are you married?" she asked me curiously.

"No," was my reply.

"Have you ever been married?"

"No."

A moment or two passed as I pushed the little boy in the swing.

Her look was somewhat disbelief. "How old are you?"

"Twenty-two."

     Surprise registered on her face, then what you might call understanding. "Oh," she said matter of fact, "you're too old to get married - you have to be seventeen to get married."

"Seventeen?" I echoed with amusement.

Her red head bobbed. "Or fifty."

     I had to laugh. What is it they say? "Out of the mouth of babes." I hoped it wasn't true. However, it became a joke in my family that since I missed the first number I would just have to try for the second. Hmmm, I'm not even half way there yet - if I let myself, I could get depressed.

     Wait a minute! The age between seventeen and fifty…is that when you're an old maid? I didn't think to ask my little friend.

     Ever feel like you're getting older and older and more like an old maid? Okay, so you're really not that old - it's all about perspective, right? Three years past twenty, not seven years until thirty. I think at some point in time, no matter what age you are you feel like you're getting older and time is running out. Probably sounds pretty crazy to some people, but if you've been there you know exactly what I mean. I can remember feeling that way when I was eighteen. (Yeah, five years ago - think about how I feel now!? Just kidding!)

     I was talking and praying with one young woman about being single, content, wanting to marry and such and the Lord had to remind me to be compassionate and understanding. Why? Because when she told me how old she was and a little of her situation, I was shocked. How could she be so upset and distraught when she hadn't even finished high school yet? She hadn't even experienced what it was like to be out of school and wondering what you were going to do for the rest of your life. She hadn't even reached twenty yet, much less my age! Thankfully the Lord's grace is sufficient and just in time He gently reminded me of when I was her age and felt the exact same way she was feeling. I was then able to relate to her and minister to her the way she needed.

     You see, no matter how old or, depending on who you ask, how young you are, it is very possible to feel like an old maid. Oh, you know you're not old, but sometimes it just feels that way. And whether or not you remember those days in your life, we need to be sensitive to the way other girls may be feeling, encouraging them in any way we can. God is faithful. God is sufficient. He will get each and every one of us through those hard days. We may have realized that singleness is a gift, and also accepted it as such and are winning the battle against the "S" thing, and we're happily driving down the single lane, but there are times when you are blue instead of the sky. Be of good courage! You are not alone and God understands your feelings and is there to help you through the rough times. You are not too old, too young or too in-between. You are exactly the age God wants you to be. You are just right. Besides, "Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest." (Reverend Larry Lorenzoni)

     I have to say though, that in our day, I don't think we have to worry about any certain age when we'll be considered an old maid in the eyes of society. Some might think we've been traveling down the single lane far too long and it's high time for us to be getting married, but I don't think anyone will come right out and call us "old maids" and seriously mean it! (…But then again they might…) My Grandpa gave me and my cousin exactly one-year to find some guys or he would find them for us. When that year came and went, he was gracious enough to give us an extension. He didn't give us a deadline this time so hopefully we will be safe until God sends the right ones along. So even though there have been times some have hinted at us being old maids, very few have out and out called us such! (Brothers, however, are definitely part of that "few"!) But hopefully you won't get that title (unless of course you give it to yourself!), for you really aren't that old, no matter how old or young you are! Yes, you guessed it! You've heard it straight from this old maid's mouth! :)

Taken from Life In the Single Lane by Aprill M. Brunson
Copyright © 2004 by Aprill M. Brunson
All rights reserved.