Committed Love

Yesterday, I got to see my dear friend Beth Ann Harris, her husband Josh and their brand new baby girl. It was the first time I'd seen her since high school. She is as beautiful today as she was all those years ago. 

She has 6 beautiful children and although things aren't perfect, I am so happy that she is able to raise a beautiful family. 

I have never had the opportunity to get married and have six sweet babies. 

I don't know that I would want six babies, but I love the idea of being married and having children. 

I date a lot for a person who doesn't really have time to date. We go out, we laugh, we talk, we kiss, we hold hands, and then the questions start to come up about whether or not we should cross lines sexually or not. I'm not going to lie--I enjoy being intimate. But for the last little while, I realize that even though intimacy is nice--I want marriage. I want a family. It doesn't mean I don't think about it and that I'm not tempted to just let myself cross some lines, but I feel like I'm sacrificing future happiness for a moment. I don't want a moment--I want a life. And the moment after the moment is bonecrushingly lonely. 

I don't take marriage lightly though. I choose to be happily single until the right man comes along. I will not sacrifice happiness in marriage just to avoid being single. I respect marriage enough to choose to be single rather than just get married because I'm afraid of being alone. 

Lest you think I'm too picky--I'm not. I generally see far more good in people than they deserve. 

I belong to a rather large congregation of single people. Everyday I talk online to friends on Facebook who are all single. Everyone has different reasons for choosing to be single. Some of us haven't met the right person. Some are recently divorced. Some don't feel financially or emotionally ready for marriage. As straight people, we have the opportunity to choose marriage or not. We choose not to be married. 

It's hard for it feel like a choice when I have wanted to be married.... but I'm just putting us all in the same proverbial boat. 

When I see someone choose to be married, I cheer! When two friends become engaged, I am filled with joy! 

The choice to be married is to choose to care for someone else and to spend your life building a family and creating a life of love with someone else. I joy in this decision. It is not an easy choice to make--but it allows the two people to create a new world of possibilities with one another. 

As a Latter-Day saint, (like Catholics) we believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman. As a single woman, I believe that any two people who want to choose to build a life of love and joy together should be supported in that beautiful decision. I want more love. I am tired of seeing so many people choose to be alone when so many people legally can't be married. 

I am tired of a world without love and long-term commitment. With every couple that chooses to be together for the long haul, I believe the world becomes a better place. 

I see my friends who are happily married with their beautiful children, and I truly believe each of those families is its own pocket of heaven on earth. 

Today, I am grateful for love and marriage and I support all who courageously choose to live a life of committed love.