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A Letter to the Single Mother for This Vacation Season

After I was 9 years previous, my twin sister and I sat alone in a church service on a Sunday morning in a small Baptist church in rural Louisiana. The pastor delivered a message and when he started the altar name, I received up and timidly walked right down to the entrance of that church. It was in that second that I noticed the load of my sin and my determined want of this Savior he spoke of. It was a deep realization (as deep as a 9-year-old may have) that I wanted Jesus’s assist to get by means of my life. Life had already been fairly laborious for me. My mom had been killed. My dad was an alcoholic who had married many occasions. I had endured a lot abuse. And there was one thing about this Sunday morning that was made clear by the ability of the Holy Spirit that I couldn’t do life with out Jesus. Life’s weight was far too heavy a burden to bear. 

I’m not sure that I understood the brevity of my determination approach again then. I’m not sure I totally understood what it was to be a Christian or how try this effectively. I assuredly didn’t perceive what it was to stroll in my God-given calling, to dwell a life set-part, or to function with the fullness of the highly effective authority of the Holy Spirit. No, that journey could be a life-long one. It’s been a journey that has taken many twists and turns, little doubt. It’s a journey that I’m nonetheless on – to be taught, to develop, to relaxation, to lean in.

As I sat down to jot down this letter of vacation encouragement to the various single mothers on the market who might encounter this, the Lord jogged my memory of that motherless little woman sitting on a pew a very long time in the past and the ache I endured, even at such a younger age. And He jogged my memory of the various pains I’ve suffered since. I instantly considered you – the one mother who’s juggling a number of presents underneath the tree with mounting payments alongside, the one mother who feels lonely right this moment, the one mother who carries unspeakable weight and feels unseen, the one mother who sits silently hurting. I requested the Lord what I may say. He introduced me right here:  

That night time there have been shepherds staying within the fields close by, guarding their flocks of sheep. All of a sudden, an angel of the Lord appeared amongst them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They had been terrified, however the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he stated. “I convey you excellent news that may convey nice pleasure to all individuals. The Savior—sure, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born right this moment in Bethlehem, town of David!  Luke 2:8-11, NLT

Single Mothers, the start of that Savior – the one we have fun this vacation season – is the hope of the world, and He modified all the things.

  • He got here to shine gentle in darkness. A few of you sit in a darkish place right this moment. There’s hope for you.
  • He got here to revive sight. A few of you sit blinded in grief & ache. There’s hope for you.
  • He got here to heal the sick. A few of are sick in physique, others in spirit. There’s hope for you.
  • He got here to set captives free. A few of you have got been sure for too lengthy. There’s hope for you.

Jesus got here in order that that 9-year-old little woman would discover energy to endure laborious seasons. He got here so that you simply – single mother – may discover pleasure and peace in the course of your laborious season, too. He got here to revive proper standing with the Father. That’s the kind of hope that endures – the kind that lasts past the fleeting second of a tough vacation or a troublesome season.

So typically, we battle through the holidays, as a result of we’ve overlooked the hope that was introduced a very long time in the past – the hope we encountered with Jesus, maybe as a bit woman. Jesus isn’t a band-aid on a bleeding wound of ache or disappointment. He’s the Nice Doctor who involves heal it. His intention isn’t to depart us suffocating and drowning and limping and bleeding in every single place. His intention is to set us free. His intention is that we’d have hope – regardless of the challenges that persist.

Mother, you’re seen by the hope of the world. He values and loves you. You might be royalty – a daughter of the Most Excessive King – and it’s time you begin dwelling prefer it. Your life’s portion isn’t melancholy, rage & anger, bitterness & unforgiveness, anxiousness & fear.

Your portion is:

  • pleasure
  • authority
  • abounding peace
  • love
  • gentleness
  • freedom
  • hope & wholeness.

You might have been knocked down numerous occasions. Chances are you’ll be bloody and bruised from the load of a number of jobs and numerous disappointments. Chances are you’ll be exhausted. And you might be uninterested in struggling. However hear me.

In his kindness God known as you to share in his everlasting glory via Christ Jesus. So after you have got suffered a short time, he’ll restore, assist, and strengthen you, and he’ll place you on a agency basis. 1 Peter 5:10 NLT

This Christmas season I wish to problem you to stroll within the fullness of the enjoyment of the Lord. Stand up with nice expectation. He’s restoring, supporting, and strengthening. He’s lifting your foot to a agency basis, planting it on strong floor. He’s giving future magnificence the place ashes lay now. He’s redeeming, reworking, and renewing. There’s by no means a hopeless second, when you already know the Savior of the world. Sit in His presence right this moment. Stroll in intimacy with Him. Concentrate on what you do have, not what you don’t. Concentrate on His guarantees, not the damaged ones of man.

Jennifer Maggio is a nationwide voice for single moms and hurting girls. A former single mother, her private story has been featured in tons of of media venues together with The New York Instances, Daystar Tv, The 700 Membership, and lots of others. She is CEO and Founding father of The Lifetime of a Single Mother Ministries, a nationwide nonprofit that works with church buildings to develop single mother’s applications and ministries, totaling over 1,750 roups at present. The Lifetime of a Single Mother has served over 750,000 single moms over the past decade and counting. Maggio is an writer of a number of books, together with The Church and the Single Mother. For extra info, go to www.jennifermaggio.com. 

Jennifer Maggio is a mother to a few, spouse to Jeff, and founding father of the nationwide nonprofit, The Lifetime of a Single Mother Ministries. She is writer to 4 books, together with The Church and the Single Mother. She was named one of many Prime 10 Most Influential Individuals in America by Dr. John Maxwell in 2017 and 2015 and has appeared in tons of of media venues, together with The New York Instances, Household Discuss Radio with Dr. James Dobson, Joni and Pals, and lots of others. 

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