about this blog
How It Started
There comes a time in a single woman’s life when she starts caring about being a good wife someday. Before reaching that point in my life, I was insecure, I craved validation, I was selfish, and worst of all, I didn’t know who I was.
My name is Shawandie Beale. In 2012, I met Jesus (not Jesús) for the first time. I always thought I knew Him in years past. I went to church (because I was supposed to), and I wrote notes during service because there was nothing else better to do. But when Jesus (not Jesús) spoke to me for the first time, I found love. I realized I’d been doing it wrong all along. I never knew I could have a relationship with Him, all I knew was religion. I prayed almost every night but I was praying to a “thing” not the Savior of my soul.
Preparing for Marriage as a
Single Woman
In 2014, God gave me a crash course on what it means to be married. I suddenly became intrigued with observing healthy marriages. Seeing couples showing love in different ways made me smile. And my ears perked up in church whenever my pastor talked about marriage. Every Wednesday evening after Bible Study, I rushed home to catch the Marriage Made E-Z broadcast by Dr. Mike and DeeDee Freeman.
Then one day, being in the right place at the right time (cleaning day at church), an administrator in the building, told me to pick out any book I wanted from the bookshelf I was organizing. Without hesitation, I divinely chose The Marriage Covenant by Derek Prince. It changed my life forever.
I started to care about myself as soon as I realized how much God cared about me. I cried out in repentance, wrote down my goals, and he began working on me. I became more concerned about loving myself instead of seeking someone to love me.
First, I had to apologize to Shawandie (that’s me) for not being kind to her, then I re-introduced myself, and promised to treat her like she mattered. Then, my confidence had to be rebuilt because the only thing I was sure about in my life was that I was cute and I looked nice in tight jeans. When God told me to stop sleeping over my boyfriend’s apartment, I said “cool”. But when He convicted me to give up sex, I was flabbergasted! I knew that God would never force me to do anything, contrary He left the decision up to me. I begrudgingly said “ok”. Needless to say, I lost my boyfriend because soon we had to stop kissing too.
Between 2012 and 2015 my relationship with God grew exponentially. I lived in Jacksonville, Florida where I had just graduated from the University of North Florida. Being in a city by myself (my family was in Miami, Florida), plus no longer having a boyfriend, I drew closer to God. After reading Isaiah 54:5 in the Bible, I asked God to stand-in as my husband while I was single. He accepted of course. Here’s How God Can be Your Husband, too.
My Favorite Part About Being Single
Taking solo road trips. Exploring neighborhoods on my
beloved, yellow Schwinn bike. Enjoying a book on perfect Sunday afternoons
on a golf course I found (before God convicted me of trespassing lol). Most of
all, I loved being able to do all of this with a renewed mind and no one
questioning my whereabouts. I hugged my pillow tighter and tighter each night
knowing in my heart that one day my bed would no longer be my own. Someday I
would be married and things would be different. I wanted to savor this time
that I would never get back. I want you to enjoy your single life 10x more than I enjoyed mine.
“You are worthy—with or without a wedding ring.”
Shawandie Beale
I Am Worthy
By the time I met my husband, I knew my worth. I wasn’t
perfect but I knew that the wisdom God was teaching me was invaluable and I couldn’t give it away to any regular Joe Schmoe. I wasn’t looking for someone to fill a space in my bed anymore. I simply waited for “real” to recognize “real”. I didn’t lose my mind trying to make marriage happen on my time… I was too busy polishing my crown.
You Are Worthy
When I started doing research on blogging, I found that almost every bloggers’ advice was “just start”. I couldn’t disagree more with that statement. It took me about a year to actually launch this website after deciding to blog. Why? Because I wanted to get it right the first time. The same thing applies to marriage. There are too many resources available to go into a marriage blind-sided. I would even go as far as telling an engaged woman to hold off on marriage if she knows there’s something she needs to overcome within herself first.
Today Is Your Day
I want to help you find and live your worth and show you how to start enjoying your life today. You do not need a wedding ring to matter in this world. You matter to me and most importantly you matter to God. Whether you are married, a single parent, never been married, or divorced, I am here for you. I don’t know it all and I still have lots to learn but come with me as I trust God for wisdom for both you and me, Gems (Godly Women Enjoying the Magnificence of Singleness). I pray that God’s wisdom will shoot you into a prosperous marriage.
Never forget, Gems, you are worthy with or without a ring.
-Shawandie Beale
