Yeah, I know--what would be the odds of someone willingly wanting to be a single parent all their life? I'm not saying that this applies to everyone, but based on my view and decision to be a follower of Christ, I don't "preach" to my daughter that single parenting is God's plan for everyone. I do understand that there are unexpected situations that place a person in a single parent role that is beyond their control.
Before you shout me down, I ABSOLUTELY believe that children are a gift from God, and sometimes this gift arrives earlier than expected, because of decisions that people sometimes make. Divorce is a decision that creates a single parent situation. Never been married and having children creates a single parent situation. Losing a spouse creates a single parent situation. As you can see, there are all types of ways that people end up taking on the single parent role.
As a single parent myself, I can't remember a time that I dreamed and planned from a young age of being a single parent. If I can be completely honest, I came from a line of broken families. So my dreams were a little different, and I felt every angle of single parenting when I found myself following this generational path that was already firmly planted in my family. Despite the choices that I made, I decided that this generational path would stop with me, and I knew that I would have to make the necessary changes in order for this to happen. This decision was hard, lonely, and overwhelming at times, but it wasn't impossible with God (Matthew19:26).
So having walked out this single parent journey for many years and demonstrating God's word before my daughter, I always make a point to teach her at every crossroad I face. I do want her to see me as a strong woman leaning on God, but I don't want her to think that this is as easy as it looks. Can I share something with you? There have been seasons along this journey where I would put her to bed only to cry myself to sleep.
My goal is always to equip my daughter with the wisdom and knowledge to walk her journey before the Lord in purity and modesty. I share with her what God's word says, and help her to see where I should have done things differently. At the end of the day, I don't want her to strive and dream to be a single parent, but if she one day finds herself there, I want her to know that she can do it, I will love her endlessly, and that God's love, grace, and mercy is in abundance.
Before you shout me down, I ABSOLUTELY believe that children are a gift from God, and sometimes this gift arrives earlier than expected, because of decisions that people sometimes make. Divorce is a decision that creates a single parent situation. Never been married and having children creates a single parent situation. Losing a spouse creates a single parent situation. As you can see, there are all types of ways that people end up taking on the single parent role.
As a single parent myself, I can't remember a time that I dreamed and planned from a young age of being a single parent. If I can be completely honest, I came from a line of broken families. So my dreams were a little different, and I felt every angle of single parenting when I found myself following this generational path that was already firmly planted in my family. Despite the choices that I made, I decided that this generational path would stop with me, and I knew that I would have to make the necessary changes in order for this to happen. This decision was hard, lonely, and overwhelming at times, but it wasn't impossible with God (Matthew19:26).
So having walked out this single parent journey for many years and demonstrating God's word before my daughter, I always make a point to teach her at every crossroad I face. I do want her to see me as a strong woman leaning on God, but I don't want her to think that this is as easy as it looks. Can I share something with you? There have been seasons along this journey where I would put her to bed only to cry myself to sleep.
My goal is always to equip my daughter with the wisdom and knowledge to walk her journey before the Lord in purity and modesty. I share with her what God's word says, and help her to see where I should have done things differently. At the end of the day, I don't want her to strive and dream to be a single parent, but if she one day finds herself there, I want her to know that she can do it, I will love her endlessly, and that God's love, grace, and mercy is in abundance.