Take the next step:
Letting go of hurt and resentment
How can forgiveness bring freedom? Take our online lesson.
Are you suffering in a turbulent home? Talk to a us.

Take the next step:
Letting go of hurt and resentment
How can forgiveness bring freedom? Take our online lesson.
Are you suffering in a turbulent home? Talk to a us.

Take a look at your life. How would you describe it?

Contented? Rushed? Exciting? Stressful? Moving forward? Holding back? For many of us it’s all of the above at times. If stress dominates your life, you could be looking to move passed those situations. It’s hard to cope with stress when you can’t put the past behind you. In the Bible, it says that Jesus came to make all things new. What would your life look like if you could start over with a clean slate?

Are you ready to choose a different path?

Jesus came, and died, and rose again to wipe the slate clean. He was scourged, tormented, and finally nailed on the cross for humankind’s sins – this was all part of God’s plan to bring you and I back into relationship with him. God wants to be a part of your life … in fact, not just a part of your life, but wants you to live in full fellowship with Him. Is this the life for you?

God loves you and created you to know Him personally. He longs for you to have the kind of full life you were always meant to have. So why do people not experience this kind of life? People are lost and separated from God, so we cannot know Him personally or experience His love. Because of our sins, we justly deserve judgement. But God provided his Son, Jesus Christ, as the only provision for our sin. He died in our place, then he rose from the dead.

We must individually trust Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know God personally, receive forgiveness for our sins, and experience His love: “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12)

We trust God through faith. You can trust Christ right now by faith through prayer! (Prayer is just talking with God.) God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. The following is a suggested prayer:

Lord Jesus, I need you. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart?

The difference God Makes:

Are You Experiencing the Spirit Filled Life?

How to Know Jesus Personally

Take the next step:

Be a HomeBuilder: Change a home, change your world
Struggling with loving others? We are here to pray with you

Recently there was a young family sitting behind me on my flight from Detroit to Syracuse.

On this particular flight the 4-year-old screamed because she was bored for the entire four hours and the parents just ignored her. I have traveled with children before, and I know it isn’t easy, but there are things you can do to make it easier – for yourself, for your kids and for the rest of us. Meltdowns happen, so anytime you fly with kids you’re going to need a plan.  The following five strategies have worked really well for me over the years.

1. Bring special toys
Buy a few new sticker books. Buy a portable video game or a portable DVD player that you only use for special occasions (like a plane ride). Bring along some Polly Pockets or Pet Shops or whatever your daughter likes. You cannot expect a 4-year-old child to sit still and be quiet on a plane for 4 1/2 hours when she has absolutely nothing to do.  (You can’t really expect an adult to do that either.)

2. Read to the kids
When my kids were young I never went anywhere without at least 10 books. My kids loved reading books, and I would sit between them on the plane seats and just start from one and move to the next. Yes, this meant that the plane ride wasn’t as much fun for me. I didn’t get to watch the movie. But the children were happy and giggling and entertained, and a few times I actually had other kids come to the row and listen in.  Occasionally other grandmotherly types offer to read a book because they enjoyed the ones I was reading so much. It doesn’t take much to bring a few books along.  It’s even easier if you have a e-reader.

3. Sit between the kids
Don’t sit in the aisle, two seats away from a 4-year-old child who is near the window. Sit between them so you have control. It does make it harder to talk your husband who is across the aisle, but please have mercy on the rest of us who are in the plane, and make an effort to control the kids.  I promise we’ll appreciate it.

4. Be aware of your tone and use it appropriately.
Telling the kids to be quiet in exactly the same voice you use to say everything else doesn’t work.  Trust me on this.  As a parent you may think that you made an effort to control the kids and there was nothing else you can do. But if you try to discipline your child in exactly the same voice you use to day, “I’ll have a Diet Coke” to the stewardess your child will not realize that she needs to take your threats seriously.

If you want your child to listen to you specifically and to do what you say, you need to use a different tone of voice sometimes. Just because you say, “Jane, be quiet” does not mean that you are disciplining Jane. If you say it and she does not react, then it meant nothing to her.  When you say it, and she doesn’t listen, and you don’t do anything, it increases the chances that she will continue to ignore your efforts.

I know you can’t go all ninja on the kids on the plane. You can’t start yelling, and you can’t give them a time out. You can’t suddenly start acting differently than you do at home and expect the kids to behave. That’s why this all has to start before you get on the plane. Start disciplining them at home so they understand your tone of voice. Follow through on consequences so they’re used to listening to you. Things will go much more smoothly.

5. Talk to your kids
This may sound crazy, but interact with your children. As soon as you sit down on the plane, in a happy voice (to distinguish from your mad tone of voice), start a running commentary and conversation with them. “Oh, Jane and Sam, isn’t this fun? We’re going to go up in a plane. Let’s do the seatbelts up. Can you figure out how to do it? Oh, look I can hear the engines. Can you hear the engines? What else makes a loud noise like that? What do you think is going to happen next?”

“Wow, we’re starting now. We’re moving. Aren’t we going fast? Do you think we’ll go up in the air soon? Look out the window! Can you see any houses? What do you see down there?” And so on. And so on.

Talk to your kids. If you start a commentary like this, the kids will stay engaged, and they won’t cry. I talked to my kids non-stop. Yes, it was a lot of work for me, but it’s a lot less work than listening to a child screaming.

More often than not these days, flying is an ordeal.  Flying with children is that much harder.  So the next time you’re headed to the airport with the whole crew in tow, make sure you pack a few of these strategies in your carry on.  On behalf of everyone else on the flight, thank you.

Take the next step:
Creative parenting techniques
10 Tips to Effective & Active Listening Skills

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Stories of Being a Mother
Motherhood and Identity
The single mom survival kit

“I’m peculiar.”

If she said it once, she said it a million times. That was my mom.  For a number of years, my sister and her son lived with our mom. My nephew always lovingly told her she was “weird”. Her response? “I’m not weird; I’m just peculiar!”

She was correct. As one of God’s treasured possessions she was peculiar. Exodus 19:5a says, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people.” (KJV) Other versions define it as “special treasure”, “treasured possession” or something similar.

God separated His people to be a peculiar bunch, to make known His Name, and to be a glory to Him among all people. And that was Mom. Peculiar! What made her that way? She had an uncommon faith and a great strength. Though understandably shaken after her husband died suddenly, her strength bolstered her to continue living.

A godly mother

Mom was always full of grace, class, and love. By today’s standards, she would be considered old-fashioned. Being a fashionista did not enter her mind. She could not have cared less about being “in fashion” but she was always well dressed. She hadn’t changed her hairstyle in maybe fifty years, but it was always perfectly combed.

Everyone who knew her thought her a true lady. Known for her life in Christ, she shared her distinguishing qualities of generosity and caring with everyone. She was always ready to give a bear hug to those who wanted one. Though she suffered with arthritis, back and breathing problems, and years of pain she rarely complained. Mom died two days before her eighty-fourth birthday in 2008.

Unfortunately, not every child is blessed to have a godly mother. Some mothers are negative, abusive, cold, or uncaring. Some even abandon their children. Many adverse circumstances shape a mother’s life and contribute to her behavior. Maybe you have a mom that behaved badly toward you, abandoned you, or did not provide all that you needed from her. Maybe she was or is the farthest thing from the example of a godly mother.

Honour your mother

Scripture says, “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you.” (Deut. 5:16a, NKJV) I know that in some cases this is extremely difficult to do, but this verse comes with a promise. It goes on to say, “…that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” This promise not only applied to God’s people Israel but applies to us today as well.

If your mom is still alive, honor her this Mother’s Day. Love her. Hug her. If she has hurt you, forgive her. You might just see a change in her. God gave you life through her for a reason. Praise Him for that.

Oh, how I miss my Peculiar Mom. I wish I could tell her once more that I love her and give her one of those bear hugs she loved so much. She left me my spiritual heritage, my Mother’s Day gift…the greatest gift she ever gave me besides physical life.

Don’t miss out on telling your mom that you love her. You never know when it might be your last time to tell her. If you do not have a godly heritage from your mother, be the first to start it for your future family. Live out your life as one whose heart is filled with the love of God.

I pray that you become that Peculiar Mom.

Take the next step:

How to survive Mother’s Day
34 Things I’ve learned about being a Mom
Easy breakfast in bed
Discover more women to look up to in our Women of Faith series

Is there something wrong with me? Will anyone ever love me again?  

When you become a single Mom your life suddenly turns upside down. It seems that fear can become as much a part of life as breathing.  I had no partner to help me so I began to balance the bank books, figure which bills to pay first, do the outside work, and the most importantly, be a stabilizing factor for my children. Fear gripped me so tightly.  As each week ended, I was afraid to start the next because of what might happen.

Fear can be overwhelming

Fears can make us feel like we are standing in a corner and totally out of control.  If we let it, fear can consume us and be the monster under our bed.  Max Lucado wrote a little booklet called, “Imagine Your Life Without Fear”.  If you get a chance to purchase this little 46 page booklet, it is powerful.  (Booklets are available on Lucado’s site, just $2 for a pack of 5 http://www.maxlucado.net/fearless/fearless-booklets-5-pack) I quote, “Fear, at its center, is a perceived loss of control.”

Do you feel that your life, like mine, is out of control? For me, each new day was a challenge and fear controlled me if I let it.  I could easily get my mind worked up and try and figure everything out.  Honestly, life doesn’t work that way.

2 Timothy 1:7 says, “God’s Spirit doesn’t make cowards out of us.  The Spirit gives us power, love, and self-control.” (CEV)  Now doesn’t that sound empowering and freeing! God will help us as we move ahead. Tap into God’s power.  Will we still be afraid? Of course, but don’t let that fear grip you. Begin to work through the fear and ask God to help you to have power, love, and self-control.

Fear can be overcome

I remember knowing in my spirit that it was time to move out of the city where I was living.  I didn’t have any family support in the area, so as I asked God for direction He clearly opened doors.  It wasn’t easy.  Moving meant packing up the house, getting a new job, pulling my kids out school and dealing with my ex-spouse’s reaction to my decision. I could have curled up and said forget it because I was afraid, but God gave me the power to make the move.  Everything fell into place.  It was tough, but it was right!

Why not spend a few minutes writing out what you fear the most?  Sometimes when we write it out, it becomes easier to face. When you have your list complied, see what solutions you feel you can reasonably tackle. If you are having difficulty with solutions, call a friend who can help you ask questions and work through the list.  When we let go of fear, we can start to think of this new life as a new adventure with many possibilities. There will still be challenges.  But fear won’t be your only response to those challenges. You’ll have the strength that comes from knowing you can make choices for your family.

You are not alone 

As I read the Bible, I am comforted to see that other people have fearful challenges too.  David had to face the Giant, The Apostle Paul preached to angry leaders of the law who had stones in their hands to harm him, Peter denied Christ, and the disciples faced drowning in a stormy sea.

Face your fears; don’t hide from them.  Call to God for help, He’s your lifeline. David killed the Giant, Paul was granted safety, Peter was given forgiveness, and Jesus’ calmed the stormy sea.  Ask God for wisdom as you face your fears.  Talk things over with a trusted friend.  Don’t let fear control you.

God assures us that He knows our worries and He understands. Psalm 55:22 says, “Our Lord, we belong to you.  We tell you what worries us and you won’t let us fall.” (CEV) In I Peter 5:7 it says, “God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to Him.”

As you face the day today, what areas of your life can you begin to release from fear? Do you believe that God won’t let you fall?  Who can you call to help you work through these fears?

Father in Heaven, we are so thankful that You want us to lay these fears at your feet. Fear can grip us and keep us from moving ahead. Help us take step after step into Your freedom.  Give us Your wisdom to begin this journey.  We thank you for Your Spirit that gives us love, power and self-control.  In Your Powerful Name, Amen.

There is HELP, there is HOPE, there is HEALING!

Don’t miss the rest of The Single Mom Survival Kit:

A box of resources
How to set boundaries

He was 52 and his father in his mid-70’s when they learned about each other.

But everyone can understand how wonderful it must be for a father and a son to be reconciled after all those years. If reconciled is even the right word: if they didn’t know they were estranged, did they need to be reconciled or merely introduced? Either way – we all can resonate at some level or another at the beauty of a coming together of a father and a son.

It’s not too late to come home

I doubt there is a better-loved story in all the Bible than that of the lost, or prodigal, son in Luke 15. With the possible exception of the Incarnation story itself – the one about God becoming a man, Jesus of Nazareth, living a perfect life and dying a vicarious atoning death for us on a vicious cross, and rising from the grave three days later – other than maybe that, I can’t think of a single story in the Bible more widely embraced and adored than the story of the son who was lost and then found, and the father who never stopped loving his boy.

We love it and relate to it because all of us are or have been children, and many of us are, have been, or will be parents. Many of us, if we’re honest, would admit we have had periods of strain or estrangement from our parents or children. Sometimes those episodes have happy resolutions, sometimes not. Whichever, our hearts beat with father and son – together, estranged, reunited – and their universal experience.

Do you feel far from God?

As I write this, I am aware of a number of people who would probably consider themselves “prodigals”: alienated from God, a friend or loved one, or the church. They are isolated from God or others because of their own sins, or sins that have been committed against them. If their isolation stems from sins they have committed and believe are unforgivable in the eyes of God or the church, they wear the ragged clothes and tattered sandals of the prodigal. If they stay away (again, from God or the church) because they believe they have been wronged, they dress themselves in the proud garments of the older brother. Either way, they are isolated, separated, lost. And neither one needs to be. The Father loves both kinds, although in rather different ways.

That’s the truth that shines most clearly through the story in Luke 15. By all rights, the father in the parable should have given up on the lost son, written him off, cut his losses. He would have been completely justified in turning to the older son and placing all his hopes and affections on him – the one who stayed faithfully at home. But he didn’t.

He kept rising early in the morning, gazing down the road in the direction he had last seen the back of his foolish boy as he wandered off, rejecting his home and his life with his father. Instead of disowning him, the father continued to love him, continued to wait for him to return to his senses and to his rightful place.

God still loves you, always will

That’s the message, the unbelievably good news, of the gospel: God loves sinners. He loves the ones who have sinned against him and against others, no matter what. If that doesn’t sound very Reformed or Presbyterian to you, I’m sorry. You haven’t understood the gospel or your heritage very clearly if you don’t understand that “God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Whatever it is that you have done that makes you think you must stay away from God or his people, it is a lie. If you are longing to return home, you will find your Father waiting to meet you there with open arms.

The late Henri Nouwen wrote a beautiful book titled The Return of the Prodigal Son. In it, Nouwen – a Jesuit priest – speaks eloquently and passionately about how each of us has within us the potential to be both brothers. Of the elder son, the one who stayed home and resented his younger, rebellious brother, he writes:

Looking deeply into myself and then around me at the lives of other people, I wonder which does more damage, lust or resentment? There is so much resentment among the “just” and “righteous.” There is so much judgment, condemnation, and prejudice among the “saints.” There is so much frozen anger among the people who are so concerned about avoiding “sin.” … [Their hearts cry out]: “I tried so hard, worked so long, did so much, and still I have not received what others get so easily. Why do people not thank me, not invite me, not play with me, not honor me, while they pay so much attention to those who take life so easily and so casually?” It is in this spoken or unspoken complaint that I recognize the elder son in me.

Many people believe that the story found in Luke 15:11-32 shouldn’t be known as the Parable of the Prodigal Son, but as the story of the Loving, Merciful Father. I agree. If you are one of the estranged, I hope you will read it and let it speak to your heart. Don’t let fear, or guilt, or resentment or anything else keep you from it. And having read it, I hope you will do what the younger son did: run home to your Father, run home to your rightful place among his people.

Rich Mullins wrote a very moving song about this story called “Growing Young.” He says it better than I can, so I’ll let him end this:

Everybody used to tell me “Big boys don’t cry”
But I’ve been around enough to know that was the lie
That held back the tears in the eyes of a thousand prodigal sons
For we are children no more, we have sinned and grown old
But our Father still waits and he watches down the road
To see the crying boys come running, back to his arms
Growing young, in the Father
Growing young …

If you’re lost or estranged, come home. Your Father waits, and your family loves you.

Take the next step:

Jesus came to wipe the slate clean
How can I relate to God?
Are you far from home? Come talk to a mentor

As a single mom, boundaries are essential to keep your family’s life stable and constant.

Some families have such tight boundaries that they can hardly breathe. That makes things harder, not easier.  I suggest finding something that works for you and your kids as you journey on this new path.  Boundaries will be your friend and save a lot of grief.

Boundaries respect who you are.  Once in place they protect you by making expectations and responsibilities clear. The confusion comes for people when they have to decide what needs a boundary. These suggestions below are from my own experience and from women who have shared their situations with me.

Every family is different so you’ll need to decide what works in your unique situation. My girls had a hard time with change.  They needed to have set times for visitation and activities throughout the week so that they knew what to expect each day. Children of divorce are confused and they too, have had their world spun around. Some children become very angry. It’s important to remember that they did not make the decision that altered your family.  You can help them cope as you put up reasonable boundaries.

1.  Maintain a regular schedule of visits.  My girls knew what weekend, and what weekly visit they had with their Dad.  That way they were prepared to visit.  When it was the weekends with me, they were prepared for our activities.

2.  Keep weekly activities to a minimum.  Children are already packing and unpacking for visits, so extra-curricular activities should be kept to what they can handle, not what suits our agenda.  My children were given an option to have one activity per week.  That gave time them to have fun, but it also gave time for homework and downtime during the week.  If your kids are older you will have to set up boundaries if they constantly want to be out with friends.  We all need downtime.

3.  Put boundaries around food and rest.  As a single mom, it is so easy to go through the drive-thru to pick up something quick.  For me, I had to leave very early each morning for work, figure out what to put in the slow cooker, have lunches packed, and get the kids to the sitter’s.  I gave myself permission to have those drive-thru nights.

It can help to make a list of meals and lunches for the week and grocery shop with that in mind. It saves on the pocket book too!  Scheduled bedtimes for all family members helped us gain perspective.  If I don’t get enough sleep, I am toast and I begin to get clouded in my thinking. There were some nights that after I tucked in my kids, I went to straight to bed too.  Other nights, it was my “Linda time” to do laundry and fold it, write cheques, and watch a favorite show to unwind.

4.  Schedule fun time.  You and your children need to make new memories. Set times to go visit grandma and grandpa, spend a day at the local fair, make regular visits to the library. Pack a backpack with water and snacks and go on an adventure hike.  This is a positive boundary to make time for your little family.  Life is stressful enough. If your kids are older, ask them what they would like to do with you and see what you can figure out together.

5.  Take time for you. Try and not get caught up in the trap of trying to please everyone and learn to say NO.  As you take time for you, it will help heal your heart.  When self-imagine has plummeted to the depth of the pit, work on YOU.  It is good to treat yourself.  I had bubble baths with candles and my favorite music.  I took long walks at my favorite park and wrote about new goals in my journal.  I met with girlfriends for coffee. I loved walking the beach while praying for the days ahead.  Many weekends when the girls were with their dad, I went to the movies by myself.  There is an endless list of way to spend time with you and enjoy it.  Make a list for yourself and begin to check them off.

As you respect boundaries for yourself and your kids, you may have opposition from your Ex and even family members and friends.  If your number one goal is to bring health and stability to your home, then stick with it. Believe me, there were times, I went into my bathroom, closed the door, and cried.   Boundaries also have a component of flexibility.  You will need to decide as each situation comes up if it is wise to flex this time. There were some days when I felt very alone as I worked to establish boundaries. But it paid off as I knew I made positive steps for greater health – both for myself and for my kids.

Note to Self:  Some children will push every boundary.  If they always get their way, your child will learn that they should get everything in life they want.  In setting boundaries, you are teaching them that life is about wise choices and not always about what they want.  That is a great gift to give your children.

“All wisdom comes from the Lord, and so do common sense and understanding.  With wisdom you will learn what is right and honest and fair.” (Proverbs 3:6 & 9)

There is HELP, there is HOPE, there is HEALING!

Don’t miss the rest of The Single Mom Survival Kit:

A box of resources 

Take the next step:

Learn how to say “No”
Use boundaries to protect what matters
Stressed? This lesson can help

I never imagined that I would be a single Mom.

I know many women are living through the same thing that happened to me. I call it the Single Mom Syndrome. Our energy and focus have suddenly changed.  Many of you stand at a cross roads wondering what foot to move, where to go, with little or no knowledge of how to survive.  I am here to tell you that YOU CAN DO THIS. Breathe, and slowly make your decisions.  It is time to put on a new pair of shoes.

What stayed stable in my life when everything else was chaotic was my personal relationship with a God who promised to never leave me or forsake me.  His Son, Jesus Christ, made it possible to have this relationship with Him when he died– so I could live.  This is where my foundation lies and how my journey continued.  I believed that I could take hold of my life and move ahead.  Was it easy? Absolutely not!  Was it tough and discouraging some days? Absolutely yes.  Was there hope for me and is there hope for you too? Without a doubt YES!!!

First Steps: Trusting God

I want to share with you my life experiences as I began this road as a single mom and chose every day to work on being the best mom I could be.  It was a conscious effort to work at trusting God to lead and heal my wounded heart. In my old life I was a stay-at-home mom with a small home daycare to help with basic financial costs. When this happened, I had to re-enter the work force.

As you can imagine, seven years changes technology and I felt like I was back in kindergarten. It was a lot to juggle keeping the home as stable as possible while learning what buttons to push on this monster called a computer! Be encouraged. There is HELP, there is HOPE, and there is HEALING.  I know it because I have lived it. I do not have a degree in Psychology, but what I have is a degree in is Hard Knocks, which has been my greatest teacher.

If you are walking through a divorce life has suddenly left you with a lot of decisions and your heart is saturated in grief.  It is hard to know which ball to juggle first.  You are not alone. I didn’t suddenly write out this list and move ahead.  It took courage and strength one day at a time, one moment at a time.  Some days, I was shaking in my shoes! But I knew that God had not forgotten about me. I can promise He has not forgotten about you either. I hope that some of my suggestions will help you put on that new pair of running shoes.

A Box of Resources

We are very fortunate to have resources at our fingertips.I know it may feel like you don’t have much, but you do have resources. During this time, take care of you.  I can’t stress this enough.  When you do this, you are able to gain perspective.  With children in the home, you will need the energy and strength to make wise decisions.  You can’t do that well if you don’t take care of yourself.

It can be hard and there are days when it feels like you are walking on your ankles.  For me, I took every advantage I could to be a stronger and healthier me.  I put on my new shoes and even though it felt like they were mired in cement, I took the resources to heal.  I encourage you to see if these could help you.

1. See a medical doctor to maintain a clean bill of health.  My doctor would say to me, “Now Linda, this is what you need to do for ‘a time’ to help you gain your strength.” Stress makes the body susceptible to all kinds of illness. You need to take extra care to keep yourself healthy.
2. Feed your soul.  Read the Bible. I read and re-read the Psalms. They were like my daily vitamin. This is one of my favorites, “Come save us and bless us.  Be our Shepherd and always carry us in your arms.” (Psalm 28: 9) Isn’t that exactly what your family needs today? I found a picture that depicted this verse and kept as a bookmark.
3. Gain some good support from safe and trusted friends who will keep things confidential. I learned this one the hard way but I soon found friends who respected my story and kept it to themselves. Be careful about who you share your story with. You can never un-share it.
4. Take advantage of your local library for books or articles that will encourage you or invest in some books you can mark up and underline.
5. Use your church library.  Maximize your busy schedule by borrowing a Bible on tape or some God-centered self-help tapes as you drive to and from work.
6. Daily exercise.  I know this is hard, but because of the stress in your life, you need to release this energy through some type of physical activity.  It might mean dusting off your bicycle and taking the kids for a ride, joining a fitness class at the local pool, a brisk walk around the block, or using an exercise DVD.  Some of my sweetest memories were the times my children and I went biking riding to the park and had FUN!
7. Eat healthy food.  You may not feel like eating a lot but make wise choices to keep yourself healthy. I called a friend and asked her to bake some muffins for me.  She was on my doorstep in no time.  It blessed me and it blessed her to do it.
8. Seek counseling.   Not everyone has medical plans that cover this, if you aren’t covered see if there is a trusted pastor that would hear your heart.  It is good to get some unbiased advice because we need to share our story.  Doing that helps us sort out the next steps.
9. Hug your kids!  You all need love and support during this time. These precious treasures need reassurance too.  There were times we just laid on my bed and laughed and talked.  It was a healing time for all of us.

I remember a counselor kept telling me over and over again that I was a Person of Worth in God’s eyes.  We are all His treasures and God wants us to move ahead. This is a new start to learn from our past and rejoice in God’s marvelous light in the days ahead.

“But you are God’s chosen and special people. You are a group of royal priests and a holy nation. God has brought you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Now you must tell all the wonderful things that he has done.” (1 Peter 2:9, CEV)

Like all new pairs of shoes, these new Single Mom shoes need some wear and tear to feel comfortable. The list above is just a few suggestions. Remember, this is a beginning so be patient as you put one foot in front of the other.   This is the time to take advantage of your box of resources.  Believe in your heart that you are worth it for yourself and your kids.    My kids have shared how they appreciated it.  I truly believe this can be an empowering and healing time for you.  God doesn’t leave you alone. He is there rooting YOU on.

Can I pray for you right now?

Father God, Some who read this are at a crossroads and need Your help.  Grant them wisdom for healing and growth.  Give Your guidance as they lead their children.  May some of these resources give them insight and help in the days ahead.  In the all-compassionate name of Jesus, Amen.

Which things in the box of resources can you begin to pull out and use?  Tie up the laces of your new shoes with a determined heart as you face your challenges.  You will get through this.

There is HELP, there is HOPE, there is HEALING!

If you are new to single parenting and have questions or just need someone to talk to, our mentors are available anytime.  You can use this form to request a mentor.

Take the next step:

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There is a wealth of information at Single Parent FamilyLife