Old Maids

One night I was in the presence of my (then) five year old granddaughter/theologian, Faith. Not too long ago, Faith informed me that the Bible says we are to “take care of the widows and orphans.” I was so impressed with her knowledge of the Bible and asked her the definition of “widow.” Faith responded, “That’s a lady who doesn’t have a husband – like you, Lynnie.” Well, call me insightful, wise, or maybe chicken, but I decided then and there that advising Faith that the corpse of my (ex)husband walks around masquerading as her grandfather was not in my best interest and I was quite content to be thought of as a widow, rather than a divorcee!

Fast forward to another evening...Faith’s language of love is time. I try to play card games or “let’s pretend” games with her when she comes to visit. After a rousing game of dice in which the object of the game was to add the dice together – you know: 1 + 1 = 2, we decided to play a new card game by the name of “Old Maid.” (Don’t get ahead of me here!) I explained the object of the game was to have as many matching sets as you can draw and to avoid the “Old Maid,” as whoever ended up with that horrible card lost the game. The next question from my granddaughter/theologian was, “Lynnie, what’s an old maid?” I defined an old maid as a woman who was old and was not married. Faith turned her back to me and 'specially selected the cards I was to be “dealt.” You guessed it! I got the Old Maid! I made all kinds of facial expressions and moaned my predicament. Faith just smiled and declared, “But Lynnie, you are an old maid.”

Truth hurts! In my defense, I pointed out to Faith that I do not look anything like the Old Maid on the card and thank you very much; I’m really not THAT old! We quickly went on to another less stressful (at least for the Old Maid) activity.

The next morning while driving to work my heart smiled about that card game. And I thought about the application stories that could come from that precious exchange. The verse that kept coming into my heart was:

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Eph. 4:31-32

I never want my countenance to reflect the countenance of the image of the Old Maid in the card game. An image filled with bitterness, rage, anger for what might have been. Nor do I want to have a tongue that speaks harsh words or chooses to slander. Even though I am a woman without a husband and possibly seen as a failure in the eyes of the world, the One who accepts me and loves me just as I am is an Awesome God. A Lover of Old Maids. A Giver of beautiful granddaughter/theologians.

May my life reflect my gratitude for a God who loves me regardless of my marital status and may one of the blessings that most inspires me to “keep-on keeping-on” be the love of my adorable granddaughter/theologian. She is teaching me lessons that she doesn’t even understand herself. Yes, God is good – all the time!

Even to Old Maids.