Birthday Surprise! It's Sahrae.

Happy Saturday! With today's special post by Miss Sahrae Rivas, we conclude our Birthday Series for 2013. I have been very blessed by all the Birthday Surprises, and I have heard from many of you that the series has been a gust of encouragement for you as well. But let's not get ahead of ourselves, as today's post is for all the single ladies!

photo credit 

28... That’s how old I turned last week. A mere two years away from the so-called dreaded big three 0. It’s the age where the little Cuban old ladies turn their knees black and blue in prayer for you! The stigma of finding out you are still single and without hope of a prospect to can change your status. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I hear “póngase las pilas” meaning get your act together. I have been asked if I have picked out the names of my future cats! I even had a coworker tell me they thought of me as they watched the news the night before, the report being about an 83 year old woman who had gotten married, FOR THE FIRST TIME! I was then told that there is still hope.Really?! My response to all these antiquated ideas that I should be married with 5 children and 1 on the way is simply: I wouldn’t have it any other way!


I could sit around, and mope, and keep pleading with God as to when this seemingly long “single” stage of my life will be over. I could cry. I could even settle, out of desperation, for any guy. Settling whether to fill a void, or to stop all the questions, more like harassment, of when am I getting married. And its not to say that I haven’t made mistakes, but God has been good and faithful to me (because I wasn't of much help to myself obviously). Being single has not been a prison sentence; it has been an awesome season in my life of self discovery.

As single woman, we need to use this time wisely. It’s not going to last forever. I want God to use me. My prayer has been, "Here I am Lord, send me!" I desire for Him to use me to do great works for His kingdom, to overcome those works that seem impossible. I hope to live my single life mentoring and encouraging young girls. I want him to squeeze every last drop of my gifts and talents during this season of my life; because I know that it will end.

I’ve been blessed to have encountered amazing wives and moms who have spoken so much wisdom and truth into my life. However, the most common feedback I get from the majority is, how they wish they had enjoyed more freedom in their youth. Not that they don't love their husbands and children, but they have different priorities and responsibilities. I truly appreciate their honesty. It encourages me and reminds me to live my life to the fullest. Because I know the day will come when I can no longer travel to Haiti whenever I want. The day will come when I won’t be able to grab dinner with my friends or head on impromptu road trips. The day will come when I won’t be able to serve full force with no hesitation in my ministry. But that’s OK, because I know it means my ministry will have changed. It will mean that the man that God has been preparing for me, my match in every way, who will lead me and our Children in the ways of the Lord, will have arrived... and they will be my ministry.

My encouragement to you.
Don’t allow any one to lead you to believe that it’s shameful to be single in your late 20s, or at any age. Bask in the freedom!! Ladies, use this season to take notes! Soak up wisdom from Godly women... like sponges! I have a list I’ve entitled “future references notes”. I keep it in my head. It’s all the advice and insight I’ve received from woman in my sphere of influence about marriage and kids, and life. I am so grateful that I’ve had these years to take notes and learn from others mistakes, mishaps, and life so that I don’t make the same. I feel so much better prepared for not only marriage but life, as all this wisdom has been poured into my life.

God is perfect in everything He does. You can either endure your days wallowing and complaining to God. You could continue believing that He must have gotten you mixed up with the girl next door who wants to be single. Or you can spend your days believing that God has you here for a reason. Seek, knock and search for His will. Be distracted living a life that glorifies Him. Enjoying the fullness of the abundant life He has before you. And before you realize it, the person God has for you is walking alongside you, hand in hand.

While in this season of my life, I am ready to go wherever God calls me; to do whatever He tells me. I’m not going to spend my days wishing, hoping, and waiting. I’m going to spend them laughing, loving, and living! I know God is good, I know He is faithful. So until the day arrives when my status changes from "single" to "married", I want to spend these years shinning my light for Gods glory. I encourage all my fellow ladies to do the same, live a life of reckless abandonment for the King of Kings. Live your life like there is no tomorrow. I am 28... and Single... and I wouldn’t have it any other way.