YOU ARE LOVED

SMORE for Women hosted one of their signature events February 11, 2017 for seven special single moms. Following are the words shared with them by Gail, the Founder.

When you go home to your children and/or grandchildren I want you to know that you are loved.

SMORE is a group of women whose goal is for Single Moms to be Overjoyed, Rejuvenated, and Empowered. And that is what I pray for you.

We began working together almost ten years ago. We’ve had:

• Sunday School classes,
• Back-to-school events,
• Over night retreats, and now
• I’m coaching single moms and others.
• I also wrote a book and
• I write blogs that I hope you will follow and comment on.

Mostly I want you to know that we truly care for you. We know that your road may be rough and we just want you to know that others do love you.

I know that you have given until you are given out.

You have raised or you are in the thick of raising your children. It can get crazy, can’t it? We all have our stories.

Yes the challenges are relentless for single moms.

• Keeping your children safe.
• Keeping your heart safe.
• Making ends meet.
• Being everywhere you need to be.
• Making sure everyone has clean underwear on Monday morning.
• Being sure there is gasoline in the car.
• And so many more. . .

I remember a few of things I learned –

• I learned to replace glass window panes in a rent house when my boys hit the baseball through it right into their bedroom, and
• I learned the hard way that a car battery lasts just about three years, and
• I found out that I was capable of climbing into the attic to light the furnace pilot when it blew out.
• I learned a lot about managing money.
• I learned that my children were looking to me about how to respond when their feelings were hurt – one more time.
• I found out that GOD IS good and helps out in ways – sometimes subtle ways – for families of single mothers.

I also remember the pain – the heartache.

SO letting go – forgiving is a feat for a spiritual Olympian.

It takes soul stamina.

One of greatest life lessons I think is this: LIFE IS DIFFICULT and once you accept that – life is less difficult.

My blog posts offer guidance based on what I’ve learned over those years.

It takes a long, long time to see the results of your hard work.

It has been 36 years since my marriage fell apart. My children are all grown-up with families of their own. I can say now what worked and what didn’t at least in our case.

Routines and rituals are good for children and most adults.

I want to give you 3 steps as you raise children or as you influence grandchildren. I call it the B, C, D approach.

1. Bible – Picture Bible is sequential and easy to understand
2. Church – GO, take children
3. Dinner together. Statistics now show that in families who sit down to dinner together at least a few times a week the children do better in school, are less likely to do drugs, and have a healthier social life.

Facing your challenges and teaching and modeling this for your children will build your and their soul’s stamina.

My challenge for you is to develop soul stamina. That is “to bring your mind, heart, body and soul into harmony.” To discover or identify your personal challenges, such as:

• remaining in a pity party for too long
• needing to control others
• choosing a vindictive path in your relationships
• maintaining an addiction
• ignoring guidance

I challenge you to continue to pray for soul stamina. And do these 2 things:

1. Naming contradictions in your life between you soul and your behavior
2. “Chart a course of action that brings harmony to your soul.”

“Open yourself to the mystical expression of the divine, the strengths to let your entire life change as a result of deepening your prayer life and self examination.” – Entering the Castle by Caroline Myss

I want you to let your soul come into its highest potential so you will be SMORE-a single mom who is overjoyed, rejuvenated and empowered.

To remind you of your true identity – The Christian Identity Confession.

I encourage you to read it aloud to yourself every day for 21 days.

I raised three children as a single mother before I remarried. I have experienced the potholes, pests, and perils of being the single head-of-household. As an educator in regular and special education for twenty years I know a great deal about child development and how to handle kids. I am the founder of SMORE for Women, a nonprofit whose goal is Single Moms, Overjoyed, Rejuvenated, and Empowered. I’m also a Certified Professional Coach and my stories have been published in several Christian books and magazines. My book, Living Learning Loving is available on CreateSpace, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble online.