Courage to be Brave

The service was beautiful. I knew I would cry at some point, but I didn’t know what the trigger would be. I think seeing people of all ages coupled up, not coupled up, and all being there to support those who are suffering made me feel like I wasn’t alone. I am a 40-year-old single woman who has never been married. Yet I yearn to be because I have wanted children all my life through the covenant of marriage. I thought I would feel alone at the prayer service, but seeing old people, priests, and others sitting by themselves made me feel like part of a larger group. I cried when I prayed to the Lord asking him to give all the couples at the service the courage to be brave during a confusing, uncertain time. I cried because I know exactly how painful it is to be in their shoes. I cried because the service brought out a level of compassion I didn’t know existed in me. The service was beautiful.