Single moms

Single mothers: brave women who are raising their children on their own.

I have known many single moms and I have learned much from all of them. How they became single moms is irrelevant except that it usually was a painful experience. I think of one mom in particular that I watched raise her three daughters. She became a single mom when her youngest was still a baby. Though she never discussed it, I know being a single mom was not her dream. I know that there was much personal pain for her, but I saw her set that pain aside, and put all of her energy into raising her 3 girls.

She believed 1Peter 5:10,

And, after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

She was a living example of this verse.

As a mom of three (now 4) young children of my own, I was very aware of the responsibilities of a mom! I found them overwhelming at times but I had a husband to lean on and to guide me through the tough times. Single moms do it alone! Well, we are never really alone are we? My point is that it is always easier to work as a team than to be the lone provider, disciplinarian, cuddler, cook, nurse, counselor, guider, and so much more!

Jesus told the disciples in Mark 10 to let the people bring their children unto Him, and then in verse 16, it says He took them in His arms, placed His hands on them and blessed them! Oh isn't that what we want for our children! Don't we all lay awake at night begging God to lay His hands on them and to bless them! I know I did, and I know my friend did! I watched her bring her children one by one to God. I watched her pray with them, teach them, and cry for them! All the time setting aside her own needs and desires! I watched her laugh with them and play with them. I watched her work hard so that they could go to Christian school. I watched her skimp and save to give them memorable birthdays and make sure the Christmas tree had what they wanted under it! I watched her stand strong on her convictions even when they kicked and screamed against them. I saw her tears and heard her laughter! Sometimes I rode the roller coaster of parenting with her, sometimes I watched and prayed, but always I was amazed at her resolve and her love for her children! She brought them to Jesus, He held them in His arms, placed His hands on their heads and blessed them. I secretly prayed to be like her! Yes, she suffered, but it made her stronger!

I learned from my friend, and other single moms, to suffer quietly! We all will suffer! It is inevitable! The question is, how do we suffer? Do we suffer knowing that the God of all grace will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish us, or do we suffer loud and long! I know sometimes I do the latter! HA! It is not pretty!

So if her daughters are reading this (you know who you are) take a moment today and hug your mom tight! She is amazing! Follow her example as you raise your kids and you will be awesome moms also!

To my friend, you have always blessed me! I know I don't call like I should, and I never write, but don't let that make you believe I have forgotten our friendship! You have a pile of crowns waiting for you in heaven! When I am done throwing mine at the feet of Jesus, you will just be making a dent in your pile! Let's get together sometime so that you can tell me how the God of all grace has restored, confirmed,strengthened and established you!!!!!!!

All moms and moms to be; bring your children to Jesus. Let Him care for them, and suffer quietly!

Rachel: daughter of Laban, wife of Jacob, mother of Joseph and Benjamin

We first read of Rachel in Genesis 29:9. She is bringing her father's sheep to the well. Jacob sees her and falls in love. The story goes on to tell us that he asked her father, Laban, if he could marry Rachel. Her father agreed to let his daughter marry Jacob after he worked seven years for Laban as payment for her. Though the Bible does not reveal Rachel's thoughts or feelings it makes it clear that Jacob was head over heels in love with Rachel. In verse 35 it says that seven years seemed like a few days. That is love. It also leads me to believe that Rachel was well aware of his feelings and probably reciprocated! Jacob waited seven years and so did she. That is a long time to wait for a husband. Having a husband and sons was a means of protection, and assurance for the future! Without a husband women were of little value. Without sons, if something should happen to their husband's, they would face homelessness or worse. Seven years Rachel waited to be Jacob's wife. Seven years she waited to have a family name and covering. Then the day comes and her father gives her sister leah as a bride to Jacob. Oh the humiliation! Oh the pain! Oh the sorrow! Rachel was not getting younger. Her chances of getting a husband were getting slimmer with each year. Not to mention the man whom she loved was married to her sister! Oh the betrayal. She had no idea what Jacob would do!

Jacob, upon finding he was married to leah not Rachel, went right to Laban. " What in the world have you done to me?" He was shocked! He must have felt like he wasted seven years of his life. Laban agreed to let Jacob marry Rachel if he would work another seven years for him! Jacob agreed! His love was so deep for Rachel. As soon as Leah's bridal week ended, Rachel and Jacob were married.

Rachel would forever have to share her husband with her sister as the second wife, but Leah would forever be unloved! It was Leah that God took pity on! It was Leah who bore Jacob his first son, then another, and another and another. Leah gave Jacob six sons and a daughter and still Rachel was childless! It seems that God once again was making Rachel wait! Why? What did He want from her? Why bless Leah with so many sons and none for Rachel? we will never know the reason this side of eternity, but the scriptures gives us a hint. Every son that was born to Leah, she knew and acknowledged, was from God. Maybe God wanted Rachel's heart? She was raised with Pagan gods. As we see later on they had great meaning to her. Rachel did not wait graciously! She was not content with just being the love of Jacob's life! She wanted and needed sons! She became jealous of Leah and angry at Jacob! She demanded that he give her sons or she would die! She took matters in her own hands and gave Jacob her handmaiden. This does not speak to me of waiting peacefully on God, being content with God's plan! She even bargained with her sister to gain some mandrake ( which was believed to be an aphrodisiac)! She bargained with her husband's bed. She was a desperate woman. She was not waiting patiently for God's timing! Her plan backfired on her though, and Leah became pregnant with her fifth son! Oh the indignity!

Again, there is no record of Rachel's thoughts but something changed, because finally, after Leah had given Jacob six sons, Rachel became pregnant! It says that God took note of Rachel. Something caused Him to open her womb. Perhaps she became humble! Perhaps she came to a place where she said, ok God your will be done! Rachel finally gave Jacob a son. His name was Joseph, and Jacob loved him! He was the favored son! I think it is noteworthy that Rachel did acknowledge God by saying that he had removed her shame! I'm sure she was very happy! The waiting was finally over. It does not, however, say that she was content to have one son, it does say in Genesis 30:24, that she asked the Lord to give her yet another son! She needed sons for her future to be secure if anything ever happened to Jacob! Was her faith in God? Was her trust for her future in God and His plan, or was she once again taking things into her own hands?

After Joseph was born, Jacob decided to take his family and leave Laban's land! As they tried to sneak away, Rachel steals her father's idols! There are many theories as to why she stole them, but it is most likely that these idols still meant something to her! After all, she needed a backup plan in case this God of JAcob failed her, Right? What if God made her wait again? There is never a time when we are told that Rachel was a woman of faith! I believe that she struggled with her faith! I believe that she saw her years of waiting, both for marriage and for a son, as wasted years. It is possible that she blamed God.

We will never know the true story this side of eternity. I do know that God's timing is not my timing! I do know that we have dry periods in our lives where we wait. Whether it be for a husband, for a child, for a washing machine, for a friend, whatever it's for we all wait! How do we wait though? Do we wait with faith in God's timing and plan? Do we wait with peace? Romans 8:25, But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with Patience wait for it! Maybe Rachel did wait with patience! I don't really know, but I do know that for whatever reason God asked her to wait for her husband, and then to wait again for a son! We all will wait! The question is how do we wait?

I learned from Rachel that sometimes I will have to wait . That will not change. I will not be excluded from that frustrating and sometimes painful experience, But God will take notice, in His time. Until then, I will wait with patience!