Singles, whether you’re visiting family over the holiday weekend or taking a vacation with family before the year is out, there are some things that we can recognize while out with our family in this season of life.

I recently went on vacation with family and took a few notes on what it means to be single and on vacation—with family. While each family is different, there may be some similarities in what we see while we travel with them as singles.

You recognize the humanity in family members on a vacation

Vacations, weekend trips, family reunions, and especially roadtrips bring out the humanity in your family members. Whether you’ve grown up with some ideal vision in your mind about them or haven’t been around them in a while, you always learn something new about their character on a trip.

I have a teen sister now and her attitude is understandably different from the little toddler I remember in our trips years ago. People change and sometimes those personalities show on vacation in funny or borderline irritating ways. How have family members changed in response to sudden changes, planning activities, leaving work at home?

It’s just something to think about when you have your own family to travel with. This exercises patience, humility, forgiveness and I’ll throw in patience again for good measure. Your future spouse is a human being with attitudes that may show differently on a trip but hopefully not too extreme. The beauty of it all is that you may learn something new and in a non-judging way just love on them with the love of the Lord and vice versa.

The part about you being single eventually comes up

For me it came up in the form of a question: “There’s a singles gathering tonight, don’t you wanna go to that?”

You may have your reasons why you’re single, and sometimes they may not understand it.

This is a challenge as well if your parents or family do not see the spiritual side of waiting on God’s appointed time for you to be in the right relationship. Whatever the situation may be for you, take their care, concern or nosiness as just part of the game and turn any negative feelings into an opportunity to give God the glory.

Family will always have something to say, just be prepared to respond with love. You’re covered by the Father and your whole contentment is in Him.

There are also those moments during the trip when you remember that you’re single and may think about what life will be when your spouse joins the family and you join theirs. Take this moment to thank God for His promises and perfect will for your life.

Reconnecting with family and making lasting memories

Vacation was one of my favorite events in the year growing up. We as a family would go out and enjoy time together without our phones for a little bit and enjoy each other. We hit the beach and had fun with each other without technology (except for my camera).

You don’t have to think about bills, work, or stresses at home. This is the time to celebrate life with family. Although there may be a disagreement or two on the trip (and I’ve witnessed my share of them), don’t let the sun go down on your anger and enjoy the day tomorrow with new mercies.

Here’s how to determine if you are giving the best version of yourself to your family.

Life is short and family connection—apart from technology if possible—is needed nowadays. We are missing the human touch, in-person laughter, and face to face contact that can better recognize what we’re going through or feeling.

Paying your family members (young and old) some undivided attention in these vacation settings allow you to create memories that you will treasure when the seasons change in life as they do. The way the years pass so quickly, there’s nothing like a trip, even if it’s for the weekend, to connect to the ones that are most important in this life, single or not.

Hey BMWK family, what do you learn about your family when you go on a vacation or trip with them?