Blend: Strengthen Your Familyনমুনা

Unique Opportunity

Crystal is a single mom to three wonderful kids. 

“How do you do it?” 

It’s a question I get asked often by those on the outside looking in on my life as a single parent to three kids. And I understand the curiosity. No one will argue that raising kids as any kind of parent is crazy hard! It’s an intense, lifelong process of on-the-job training for the hardest, most important job you’ll ever have. But imagine doing it alone, with no partner and a very small budget. How do we do it? 

Sometimes, I’m rubber band mom—going to work, meeting the teacher(s), shuttling kids to activities, making dinner, having conversations, helping with homework, and somehow taking care of me. It means making compromises and sacrifices that can hurt. It’s smiling and holding back tears as I drop kids off at their dad’s on Christmas Eve or not being with them for a birthday. And every single day, it’s just me making a thousand important decisions for my family, and it can feel back-breaking heavy.

And while all of that is true, so is this: The irony and beauty of solo parenting, co-parenting, and any kind of blending a family is that you quickly come to the realization that raising kids well and living to tell about it cannot be done solo. We need Jesus and we need His followers. 

Becoming a single mother effectively stripped away my ability to pretend I had it all together and exposed my deep need for a Savior. I now can honestly say I am so grateful.

We have the unique opportunity to live out the gospel in such a tangible way each day. We can rely on God’s strength when we come to the end of ourselves and don’t know if we can keep going. We can demonstrate God’s grace when relationships with the rest of our kids’ families are tense and when we feel like we can’t live up to anyone’s expectations. We can live out restoration by seeking God instead of our own idea of a whole family. 

Restoration is less about how your family looks and more about Who your family follows. And as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 

Whether you are killing it as a veteran single parent, struggling with the brokenness of your situation, or somewhere in-between, God is ready to meet you where you are and do something incredible with your story—beyond what you could think, hope for, or imagine.

Watch Blend: Stepparents and Bio Parents Can Work Together, Part 2

Pray and listen: When it comes to _______, I feel incomplete. Thank You for this opportunity to realize that You are enough. As of today, I am inviting You to become my strength. And as for me and my house, we will serve You. Amen.