"When you get married..."
If these words are familiar to you, then you’ve likely grown up on the same planet that I have. Or at least in a community where marriage is celebrated, looked forward to and talked about. As it should be.
But the crux of many painful stories is found in the space between when and waiting. We find ourselves stuck in cycles of broken hearts, unfulfilled dreams, and expectations for something that was never intended to be a burden. Marriage is a gift, not a script to be followed.
And while we see in Scripture the beautiful ways that marriage points to the love of Jesus for his Bride, a life lived outside of marriage can still embrace commitment, sacrifice, and love. So, if the best projection of a life well lived is marked by whatever follows ‘when you get married…’ then how can we answer the question I’ve long asked myself: "And If I Don't?"
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April Klassen grew up in Vancouver, BC, yet has spent many of her adult years co-creating community projects around the globe. Inspired by the abundant love of Jesus and his provision in her life as a single, she is passionate to encourage and communicate ways the church can live into its calling as a family of God.