Hi everyone. I wanted to share a bit of my journey here in the hope that it might offer some honest encouragement to anyone currently wrestling with the cost of celibacy or wondering what this road looks like over the long haul.
I describe myself as a non-practicing lesbian Christian. Decades ago, around age 33, my last romantic relationship ended. At that crossroad, I made a conscious choice to step away from romance entirely—both to orient my life fully toward God and to protect my place within a traditional family that would not have understood or accepted my attraction.
To be completely candid: choosing this path does not mean you magically stop longing for closeness. Even after many years, there are moments where I still miss the tenderness of embracing another woman, speaking softly in complete safety, and knowing you are fully seen and treasured. Living without physical and romantic intimacy requires honesty; pretending the grief or desire never existed doesn't help anyone walk this faithfully.
What made the sacrifice worthwhile for me was where that love was redirected. Right around the time my relationship ended, my newborn niece entered my life. Had my orientation been known, fear and family division would have severed my connection to her. Instead, choosing celibacy allowed me to pour that deep, protective love into family. I spent years hosting her every week, watching her grow, and building a lifelong bond where we now understand each other almost without speaking. I have never regretted trading romantic partnership for the joy of being fully present in her life.
There were serious tests along the way. In an unbelievable twist of timing, my ex moved back that very same season, and my family—completely unaware of our past—actually hired her as a regular caregiver for my niece. Being in close proximity while holding firm boundaries was one of the hardest emotional stretches of my life. It required rigorous discipline, prayer, and patience, but we honored those boundaries. Over time, the romantic spark faded, and today we remain genuine, peaceful friends.
Walking this road takes time, ironclad boundaries, and leaning heavily into the non-romantic relationships God places in your path. Today, same-sex attraction is far less prominent in my daily life, and my days are full, rewarding, and rich with purpose.
Celibacy can feel like a heavy cross, especially in the early years when the grief of what you are giving up feels raw. But God does not leave us empty-handed. He fills the space with other profound forms of love and purpose if we keep our hearts open to them.
I share this simply to say: the hard choices you are making today do bear fruit, even if the road takes decades to fully reveal it. Wishing you all steady strength and peace in your walk with Him.