National Single Parent Day
Single mother, a title I never wanted. A place I never thought I would find myself in but a season God has carried me through. On this day I want to honor not only the mothers doing it alone but the fathers as well. Parenting is a tough job in itself. Single parenting is a whole other race. A race no amount of training can prepare you for. It can only be done with the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit that lives within us.
On this day, I not only want to say I see you but I want to share three scriptures that help me on my toughest days. They give me hope and keep me going when the going gets tough. On the days you feel like you can't go any further. The ones when you are so beyond exhausted. When you feel like your sacrifices and devotions don't matter. The days you have to tuck your little one to bed and console their little hearts because they miss their other parent. Those are the days I cling to these scriptures the most. They keep me going and remind me of who God is and how present he is in our lives. God's word is living, His word speaks and comforts us on those days that feel heavy and daunting.
Exhaustion can not even begin to describe how worn out I am by the end of a day. Between the physical and emotional exhaustion, I am left feeling frazzled more times in a week than I like to admit. When you are a single parent you wear many hats. The workload and responsibility of running a home, working, and being a parent among many other roles can take a toll on your mind, body, and soul. On the nights I am left feeling depleted like I have completed nothing and things seem like they are falling apart I hold tight to this truth, Psalm 4:8 "In peace, I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety".
When you are feeling anxious and tired, God gives you peace and rest in exchange.
Being able to financially take care of my son and myself was a major concern for me throughout my transition as a single parent. Growing up in a single-parent home I know what it was like to grow up going without and I knew what it was like to have an overflow. Though our times of overflow were far and few in between God always provided and we always had what we needed. My son is 5 years old and as you know they eat and grow like weeds. At this age, I feel like there is always a need. Every time I turn around he has grown out of clothes and shoes. Let me tell you that every time I have had a need God has always placed us on the heart of someone else who has blessed us. There have been times when I've had to make a choice between putting food on the table or paying a bill and in the end God made a way. When I worry about making ends meet I cling on to Philippians 4:19 "and my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." God has provided for us in big ways and little ways but every time he does I'm overwhelmed by his generosity towards us.
I would be lying if I said that three years later I don't feel some pain over how things turned out. The residue from the emotional trauma I experienced throughout my marriage, during my divorce, and as a single parent still lingers today. When the days get hard I think " I didn't sign up for any of this". While the sting is not so strong I've been left with wounds that I fear will never heal. Wounds that I know play a part in how I build relationships with those around me. Wounds that make me resentful and cause me to ask questions like, God, why me? I worry if they are as visible to others as they are to me. If they'll cause others to flee and love me differently. When you think you will never get over what you have been through God's word says " He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3
While I never thought I would be a single parent one thing I do know is that in every season of my life God has been present. What he has spoken over my life and yours will never change. The truth of the matter is that we will continue to face hardships but it's those very storms and setbacks that allow God to be glorified in ours lives. It will bring much-needed hope to the next single parent we encounter. As much as I want to change the things that happened and my circumstances I never want to hinder what God wants to do in me and through me. I want to be the vessel assigned to the next woman or man going through a season of single parenting. I pray these verses bring you peace, hope, and keep you going for days to come.
When you fear how you will make ends meet know that God will provide your every need. If he did it for me he will do it for you. When you are so exhausted and feel like you simply can't do it anymore I pray God gives you peace and rest. I speak refreshing over you today in Jesus' name. When all the hurt and scars from your situation are clear I hope you remember that God heals. He will turn your pain into purpose. The stings won't sting forever. I pray that when people begin to question how you did it, the evidence of God over your life is apparent. When you feel shaken by all the rumble and tumble of this walk we call single parenting I hope you cling on to the word of God and remain unshaken.