Devotional

Here we go again! (I like to repost this from time to time as a reminder of where I've been and where I am going).

If you are a single mom, regardless of the path that brought you here, this is for you..so you can know that you do not have to walk alone.

For all of the women who share the role of single mom, including me, we belong to a very large group of women who share the same heart, the same struggles and the same needs.

In learning how to be single, sometimes we attempt to attach ourselves to another human being, hoping they will be able to meet our deepest needs and heal our hurts. We miss the feeling that we are part of a whole. In our “neediness” we think another human being might hold the answer. So we reach out to relationships that only pull us farther away from where we need to be and bring more hurt into our lives.

The most important truth I can share with you is this. . .

There is someone who I have fallen in love with. I am committed to Him and love Him with all my heart. I am not alone anymore. He meets every need I could ever have. He never leaves my side. He is faithful. He is strong enough to protect and provide for my children and myself. Spending time with Him every day has become my greatest joy. I have learned that I can trust Him in any situation. Regardless of how impossible the world may see my plight, He can bring blessing from it. He has shown me that the greatest blessings in my life have come from my greatest difficulties.

He is my God and my Savior Jesus Christ. He loves me. He loves you. There is nothing we have done or will do that can change that love. We have made mistakes, we have made wrong choices. Those we loved have made mistakes and wrong choices. These do not limit God and His power to restore. His grace and mercy are greater than our weakness. For it is in our greatest struggles that we see Christ. Only His pain on the cross is enough to save us from our greatest pain.

When we get to the place in our lives when there is no one else, no place else to go, nothing left to believe, Jesus is there waiting. His arms are stretched out to us in love and forgiveness. We can find Jesus in His Word, in the books we read, in the music we listen to, and always in our heart. I found that after years of wondering if I could ever be welcomed back into God's arms, I was the one who had looked away. All I had to do was look to Him. My eyes met His and He was right there with me. No human being could ever be as close.

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

Romans 8:1

We Do Need People

Hi all,

Everytime I read my devotional for single moms (devotion of a single mom) I feel like something is missing. When I say that we don't need another human being, I mean that we can't look to another person to fix us and I'm referring to romantic relationships. Because the truth is, God created us to need other people. We need to be around strong women who depend on their faith daily and who have been through what we're going through. We need our families. We need to spend time talking with women who need our help in facing the struggles they're in.

We do need each other. So don't isolate yourself as you live life as a single mom. We were never meant to live in isolation. It's easier to be strong when we have people to hold us accountable. Find a Bible Study for women or single parents and you'll find out you aren't alone out there. Find a singles class who like to do fun things together and include the kids.

Life as a single parent does have it's difficulties, but it has it's joys and triumphs too. Remember the definition of courage: doing something in spite of being afraid. It's not the absence of fear, but acting through your fear. When you get to the other side you'll be a stronger, more courageous person! It's really rather exhilarating!

(and then maybe someday . . . a long way down the road. . .or maybe not. . .whatever God has in mind.)

Back to Nature

~ We did have a great camping trip. Complete with tree climbing, swimming in the river, hiking, all the things a boy needs from time to time. For Mom, sitting back, listening to the locusts and crickets and birds, sleeping in a tent, just being surrounded by the healing power of nature. It's always surprising how a little time soaking up God's creation can calm and help to erase the little daily stresses and even the big ones. We had a little more warmth and sunshine than expected but overall we had a great time.

~

The evening we returned home, we watched the PBS special about our National Parks. My camping confidence renewed, we made plans to camp more often and see more of the natural beauty both nearby and far away someday. The show talked about how real God's presence is felt and the healing to our mind and spirit we experience when surrounded by nature. I had to agree!

~

We came home with a second walking stick so I now have my own for our next hike. Those things come in handy!