Single Moms – Standing Strong

When I say, “single mom”, what pops into your head?  Do you see an overwhelmed and depressed woman with kids wildly running around?  Do you see a mom running to daycare and then to one of her two jobs, looking like “death warmed over?”

Maybe you see a strong and focused mother, even though she has her own personal crisis and hurts. She  wants the best for her kids and is seeking resources, family and friend support, and relying on God to guide her through the family trauma.

I know many single moms because I directed a large single parent family ministry in Oregon for over 12 years.  It was eye-opening for me, but more importantly, it was heart-opening.  The majority of single moms and their kids live at or below poverty level, once the marriage is over.  They learn to either be resourceful or just give up.  I saw more single moms stand up and get stronger than I saw pure defeat.

Yes, they were tired and worn out, and yes, sometimes they had to be on public assistance for awhile, but their goal was to thrive and try to assure that their kids would too.  They were the only one that their children ran to in the middle of the night, threw up on, and cried on their shoulder after school.  Mom was the one who got them to and from their activities and school, put  Bandaids on their boo boos, tried to make good meals, brushed their hair and made sure they brushed their teeth.  She tried to help them with their homework, tried to keep the house somewhat clean, did the laundry, tried to keep the yard presentable, tried to make birthdays special, and cheered them on at school concerts and games.  Good single moms TRIED and many succeeded.  There was no one to “hand the kids off” to or take the burden away of raising them alone. Single moms are my heroes.

Now, I see the kids from our ministry who have graduated from high school and now college.  Some have gotten married and some have had children of their own.  They can give a lot of credit for that to their single moms, who sacrificed so much for their kids.  It wasn’t easy, but by hard work and the grace of God, they made it.

“I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry,  He lifted me out of the slimy pit, and out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  He put a new song in my mouth; a hymn of praise to our God.”  Psalm 40:1,2

STAND STRONG, SINGLE MOM!  God sees you, loves you, goes before you and will equip you on your journey.  Your rewards are not only here on earth!

NOTE:  For every focused and hard-working single mom, there are also single dads who want the best for their children and try to stay connected to them.  Even with the battlefield of divorce, affective single parenting is possible, if the parents put the well-being of their kids first.  I know, because I have seen it many times.

This week on the “Chained No More” radio show, our guest is Jennifer Maggio, a woman who has an enormous national single mom ministry here in the USA (www.thelifeofasinglemom.com).  She will inspire, encourage, and educate all of us tomorrow, Tuesday, May 26, at 1 pm CT and 2 pm ET at www.toginet.com.  Please join us.  If you miss the live broadcast, you can download it at www.toginet.com/shows/chainednomore later that day.  Tell all of your single mom friends about it, so they can listen and be encouraged.

#chainednomore   #bestradioshow   #divorce   #singlemoms   #kids

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