Holding Arms and Caring Hearts

So the story goes, another mother is abandoned by the father of her child. And then comes the knowledge of the overwhelming responsibilities left to her to raise the child or children alone. One of my clients really felt alone in that corner until I shared with her the stories of Timothy and Moses.

“I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.”

II Timothy 1:5

Young Timothy was raised by his mother and his grandmother. It is only in Acts 16:1-3 that there is a brief mention of the father. But I can only imagine that these two had a tag team in all aspects of Timothy’s life.

The Word goes on to say it over and over about how we are never alone… meaning Jesus did a lot of things in pairs. It says “when two or three are gathered in my name I am in the mist…” (Matthew 18:20). Another says, “Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.” (Mark 6:6-7).

“Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.”

Mark 6:6-7

So I remind all my single parents that they are never alone… that Jesus is with them or Jesus sends another to carry the load. Jesus is the author of “teamwork” .

Which takes me to the point of this title… Holding Arms. In Exodus 17:12, Moses’ arms soon became so tired that he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset.

Wow. Can you see the revelation of that verse? So let’s imagine: in the first story I can see that Timothy’s grandmother is on one side and Jesus on the other. Timothy’s mom had a team. Moses had a team with Aaron on one side and Hur on the other. And every single mom has a team, they just got to believe it. If you’re a single mother, you are not alone either. Here are some more tips to help lift the burden:

Build a support network.

It’s OK to ask for help, you deserve it. Include your family, friends, church, leaders from your children’s after-school activities and other people you trust and can rely on. They can help you with picking up your children from school, have sleepovers, and share hand-me-downs. 

Find other single mothers.

Talk with them about how they handle their lives. How do they deal with stress? Become a part of each other’s support networks by having play-dates or taking turns babysitting.

Perform self care.

When you’re a parent, it can be hard to find any time for yourself. But, it can be empowering because it is difficult . One of the most important aspects is to make sure you are taking care of yourself first. How can you provide for your children if you’re overwhelmed? When you have the chance, do something you like, go out with friends, or go grocery shopping alone. You can call upon your support network for babysitting, play-dates, or sleepovers so you can have that time to yourself.

For my client she had the grandmother of her children and Tanya’s Childcare. Together we filled in all the gaps from childcare to shelter, food, clothes, finance, and even Godly advice. Tanya’s Childcare can help lift the burden. Whether you regularly work late hours or need only a day to yourself, we can provide responsible care day or night throughout the week. We are here to fill the gaps.