"Ugh, I *hate* the word spinster!"
-or-
"You're too young to call yourself a spinster!"
Most people get a negative mental image when they hear the word "spinster."
To be perfectly honest, that was the image that came to my mind too.
It terrified me. I may end up alone, knitting sweaters for my cats!
Then I decided that I was going to reclaim that word. I did some digging and here's what I've found:
In the days when only men could work, women commonly married for livelihood or security. For some women, marriage was not an option. They were often abandoned by the men in their lives and faced with the very real possibility of starvation on the streets. Many turned to prostitution, but a few found honorable work among the limited choices available. One such job was spinning wool or cotton into yarn. They were known as "spinsters."
Admirable women. Proud women! They chose a life of hard work, bent over a spinning wheel all day, working wool until their hands were raw.
See? Look at the quiet, contented pride in her face.
She has lived a life of hard-earned dignity.
Spinster is not a bad word!
Being unmarried isn't a bad thing!
Singlehood is not a disease, and it's nothing to be ashamed of!
I AM SPINSTER! HEAR ME ROAR!
Okay, I'm not actually sitting at my computer roaring and flailing my arms like a crazed baboon.
But in all seriousness, this is a special time in a woman's life - a gift that God has given you. I know, I know, sometimes it feels more like a curse than a gift. Some of you may even have been told that you are cursed with singlehood. But, I promise, it's a gift! Your time is so much more your own without the responsibilities of a full house. It's much easier to find time to read your Bible, pray, foster your relationship with God and your friends. You can attend classes and volunteer at your church and in your community without trying to balance multiple people's schedules.
As it goes with other gifts God gives us, we get the most satisfaction when we use our singleness to help others. For example, taking a teenager out for coffee or visiting with an elderly widow. I know, kind of scary to step out of the old comfort zone. But trust me, you won't have to do hardly anything but sit and listen. They'll do most of the talking. These are things that married women with small children rarely have the opportunity to do. And how many of your married friends haven't been out for a date in months because they can't find a sitter? Or you could go over to your friend's house and hold the baby so that she could do things that you take for granted, like running to the grocery store or taking a hot shower. You, as a single woman, have enormous potential for blessing the lives of the people around you.
This is a glorious time in our lives, my dear spinsters.
Revel in it.
Bask in it.
Don't wish for a fast-forward button on your life so you can just skip to the part where you meet "the one."
Complaining about being single is like blindfolding yourself at a scenic overlook. Open your eyes and your heart. God has surrounded you with blessings and the ability to bless others!
WE ARE SPINSTERS! HEAR US ROAR!!
