I remember it was a few days after the Wellspring board members’ retreat in April. We met at Gloria’s for the weekend for our ‘annual checkup’ – a review of Wellspring activities from the past year and a time of seeking God for the year ahead. We prayed for each other and we worked diligently on the upcoming conference for 2008, including the workshops. (And yes, the Ya-Ya Sisters DID have fun!)

A few days later while driving to work I was praying about facilitating the single Mom’s workshop, especially how to build upon last year’s first introduction of it. Last year we had an open forum, sharing style – where women were encouraged to send in topics they wanted to discuss as a group. It was encouraging to have women ready to talk and share. It was a time of open emotions and soul-bearing honesty but before we knew it time was called.  This year I knew I wanted to keep the sharing style but I also wanted to dig into the Scriptures as well as allow time for personal ministry and prayer.  So, I’m driving to work and praying about all of this and suddenly I’m impressed with two things simultaneously – the first was remembering a few single Moms talk about how they felt a little ‘second class’, and the other was the epitome of womanhood – the Proverbs 31 woman.

I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with that woman – well, maybe love/hate is a little too strong – how about hopeful/frustrated, eager/intimidated, you get the idea. I was jealous to be her but didn’t know if I could ever live up to her when I WAS married. When I became a single Mom I ‘put her to the side,’ (I must say with a ‘Whew!’ because I felt it took me off the hook – after all the implications were of a married women and I no longer fit into that category.)  But that day driving to work I knew we were one in the same – no matter the circumstances we found ourselves in and no matter how I viewed myself.  Specifically, God said: “a woman is a woman; a mother is a mother; and My daughter is My daughter. Circumstances will change but not your identity, not My Love for you, not my Plan for you and not your standing as My heir with My Son, Jesus.”  To say I was a fumbling, bumbling mess – going at least 60 miles an hour – is no understatement.  To my credit I did at least slow down a little.

Since then God and I have been looking at Ms. Proverbs 31 in a new way. I invite you to embrace the plan of God for your life whatever the situation– and if you are a single Mom, then this is the plan for you at this very moment.  Circumstances do and will change – sometimes in the blink of an eye. No matter how we came to be in the Land of Single Moms – it more than likely came with sadness and wounding. But it DOES NOT change who we are in Christ.  God wants you healed and full of faith for your life and the lives of your children.

Come and be encouraged in the Lord: May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 13:20.

Love you and see you soon-Vikki