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Written by Liliana Henríquez, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Colombia
Recently, I met with a friend and sister from the church to visit since we haven’t seen each other for a while. She talked to me about her children, how she was doing with online classes, her job… well, her whole life. I just listened to her, smiled and expressed my joy for the good news that she has shared with me. After an hour, she asked me how I was doing, my answer was short and simple: "Thank God, I'm fine, working from home and my family is fine." That was it. We said goodbye, but before ending the Zoom meeting, she told me: "next time you have to tell me more about yourself because I feel like I talked too much." I smiled and we ended the meeting.
After meditating on that, I realized that my life is really very SIMPLE. I do not have anecdotes about children to tell, I have no responsibilities to others beyond my regular work as a teacher and psychologist, and my daily routine is almost unalterable because it depends only on me. From that anecdote with my friend, I came to the conclusion that perhaps God has allowed us single women the opportunity to have a relatively "simple" life, in order to help others who have complex lives.
This reminds me of Galatians 6:2 which tells us: "Bear one another's burdens..." This is much easier to do if one of the two parts is lighter than the other. If both are fully loaded, they won't be of much help to each other. So, I realized that being single and with a simple life is a great help for the church because there are many sisters with very heavy emotional loads who need comfort, encouragement or simply a sister willing to listen to them to feel less burdened. That too is missionary work. Because mission is not limited to preaching the Gospel to the unsaved, but it is also about preaching and affirming the Gospel to the believer.
The union of a simple life with a complex life is a practical example of Proverbs 27:17, iron sharpening iron, where both parties build up and help each other grow in Christ. So, if today you, the single sister reading this, are wondering what you can do in the church, I encourage you to be that sister who helps to ease the burdens of those who feel burdened. We single women are more useful than we think! Let us serve in the way that God has called us to serve with heart and devotion.
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Written by Katie Forbess, President of Iron Rose Sister Ministries’ Board of Directors
Dear Sister ________ ,
Hi! How are you?
This month’s blog posts are about singles and so I decided to write you a letter with some thoughts about you and how much you are a vital and absolutely necessary part of the Whole. You are very crucial part of my life and the body of Christ.
You are an incredible part of my life, particularly my spiritual life. You have a perspective and encouragement for me that is entirely unique. I know that being single has been a struggle for you at times just like you know being married has been a struggle for me. You always bring me back to the Father in a way that is beautiful and affirming but don’t let me get away with anything either. Your ability to see me has not always been matched by my ability to see you.
The way you work in the church behind the scenes, but dedicate your whole heart to what you are doing is inspiring. The way you work with women as a doula and then after with nursing or anything else they need is incredible. God has gifted you with so many unique gifts and you take those gifts and use them every day as God presents the moments.
You are fearless. Well, let’s be honest, sometimes you are afraid but you meet the fear with God’s word. You take that fear and put it in its place before our Father and speak it out loud to another sister so that it no longer has power over you.
Your strength comes from the Lord, and no other man. You are married to Christ in a way that I maybe envy a little. You take that commitment as serious as a wedding vow.
I know you have suffered some because of how I wasn’t sensitive and I didn’t appreciate you as much as I should have. There have been several times when you have come and helped me and seen me when no one else did. You knew what was going on and you did something about it. You are always about prayer and action.
Within the church I know there have been times when others have hurt you by constantly talking about setting you up with someone, limiting your say on the mission team because you didn’t have a husband, overlooking you in conversation and in action. I’m sorry. I’m sorry that you have suffered and I will do better and I pray that as a church body we will do better.
You bring so much to the church and church life and I know that any congregation you walk into, if it’s for one Sunday or 10 years, is blessed.
Thank you for being yourself and for being honest with others about how God shapes you and molds you in all different kinds of circumstances.
You are a prayer warrior and I thank you for always being ready to pray with me, pray for me or ask for prayers. I know that your life is in a very special waiting place right now and I can’t wait to see how God is going to work this out!
I love you, Sister!
Katie