Mommy Steps - Being a Single Mom 3

In stating the first need for a single mom to address when contemplating life’s issues is to begin counseling, we are acknowledging the trials, struggles and difficulties she has. By no means do we infer that as a single mom she has problems beyond her capability to resolve. Not at all. At times we simply need a moment to take a long hard and objective look at our lives, and we may need help in doing this. A timeout from the busyness of life to be objective.

We need to consider and examine our reality.

Are there changes we can make to function in a more productive way, in ways that will be of greater benefit and blessing to our family? We simply need to consider if we’re adding to our confusion and difficulty or are we doing helpful and beneficial things to lighten the load? Which is it?

Often for single moms this question alone is overwhelming. Amidst numerous responsibilities she simply does not want to deal with one more area she has been asked to examine. We realize the multi-faceted responsibilities she has leaves her with little time, and we suggest she seeks the help of her local church, or discusses it when making a counseling / discipleship appointment. At times the only change needed with her time challenged responsibilities is to have her church or community be of help in watching the children for a couple of hours. However, many churches are not able to do this, nor or they equipped. Still we would like to see a single mom with a support network to encourage her, and on whom she can rely when needed.

A counselor will help her analyze her daily responsibilities and plan her life around the essentials. Are all her commitments essential? Single moms will say yes, and often it is, but it may not always be true. What counsel and encouragement can we give her to continue to function in a godly way?

A counselor or support network will help a busy single mom take the necessary steps to achieve this. She maybe tired and exhausted doing it all alone, but she will prevail.

Biblical exhortations for her to seek help, a counselor or support group are:

• We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up (Romans 15:1-2).

• Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).

• Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).

And, so single mom, we encourage you to reach out and find the help needed to grow in grace. Should your circumstances not allow for you to do so, we encourage you to keep coming back and reading as we grow together in becoming women of grace.

Grace to you!

#singlemom #biblicalcounseling