Hi everyone! My name is Frannie Ruth. I am Catholic and almost 19 years old, I live in Wisconsin on a small farm with my parents and six younger siblings. I am a prospective Animal Science Major as well.
I currently work odd kitchen jobs in a restaurant, run our own farm, and babysit. I love reading, learning, babysitting, writing, drawing, praying, farming, and showing livestock!
What is your singleness story?
I’ve been single my whole life, I’ve never been on a date, and I’ve never had a boyfriend.
I do firmly believe that my God given mission in life is to be a wife and mother, so I know that I will not be single for long (for all we know, I could be on the last couple of years of my singleness!).
I have been blessed to know my vocation since I was young, but have had my share of “vocation crises” over the years. I consider myself a marriage and courtship learning nerd, I have probably read every Christian book on the topic!
As far as singleness, I guess I never really thought about being single until last year, when my sister (who is fourteen months younger than me) started dating. Prior to that, I didn’t label myself as single. The only thing I had ever committed to was not dating until a certain age (for me nineteen and a half). It has only been this last year that being single has come into the picture of my life. And it seems, this past year has been the hardest on being single!
Somedays the “single status” hangs over my head like a cloud, and other days I don’t seem to notice!
What’s the best thing about being single?
It has taken me months to realize the fruits of singleness or even to be thankful for being single, but the blessings of being single are there! I do not think there is one best thing about being single; where God is, grace overflows.
I am thankful for the opportunity to cultivate virtue and a strong spiritual life. My time not spent with someone else can be spent in prayer (Trust me, the time management doesn’t always line up like that, but, I can any chance of prayer time as I can get.). Your spiritual life is something that you always need, why not build a foundation now in your life?
I also appreciate being able to completely focus on school, my faith, the farm, and work without having a relationship in the mix. We all know that faith, and for me living out the liturgical year, comes first. These ending teenage years will only come once, and school must come first! Being a farm kid, the farm takes a close focus in my day as well. The best things of being single are out there, even if they take a long time to appear!
What’s your biggest struggle when it comes to being single?
Being single is a struggle; some days more than other.
There are three main things that I struggle when it comes to being single. The first one is jealousy of others in relationships. Which leads to the second, wanting to “have” “someone”. And the third struggle, is loneliness.
I do not think that there is anything special about my struggles in singleness, I have a feeling that they are common and I think that most singles can relate to them. It is important not to get yourself down in these struggles, but to remember the good things, and live abundantly in Christ’s love.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give your fellow singles?
I am the last person that one should be going to for advice as a single, but my two cents of advice would be to: Choose to live and be a joy for others and this quote from the great Saint Pope John Paul II, “Be not afraid!”.
Thanks for stopping by for this week’s edition of My Singleness Story. My Singleness Story is a series for singles, by singles. It’s a place for singles to have a voice and to share what they’re learning and struggling with during this season of life. It’s where we come together and learn we’re not alone. If you would like more information on how you can share your singleness story, you can find it here.
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