Momma's Boyনমুনা

Day 1: In a Perfect World

Although statistics indicate that in the United States the traditional family model is now firmly in the minority, it’s important for us to understand God’s design for families and the order in which He set it.

This is because if we are ever to get it right, we must do it His way.

God’s design for family is one man marrying one wife, and the two of them becoming one flesh and raising any children they have together in the Lord. The husband is to love his wife like Christ loves the Church, and the wife is to respect her husband and submit to him as he submits to Jesus. This creates a loving environment where kids can grow up honoring their parents, and one day follow in their example.

This is the model, but for many reasons we might fall short. Sometimes a spouse passes away. Sometimes a spouse is unfaithful. In other situations the child was born without the commitment of a marriage. Maybe the father is abusive, addicted to drugs, or imprisoned. Whatever the case may be, our God is big enough to account for what we are missing.

I was raised for the majority of my childhood, teenage, and young adult life by a beautiful single mom with two boys and a girl. She is the lovely face you see on this devotional graphic. My mom is amazing. She is everything I could ask for in a mom and more! I am truly grateful to God for her, because without her I would not be half the man I am today.

As great as my mom is, there were still things I was missing growing up. I’m not talking about clothes, education, or even a loving home. My mom provided all of that. I was missing the things that were impossible for her to teach me. I was missing the things about being a Godly man that can only get passed down through another man, or by God.

If you are a single mom reading this I don’t want you to become discouraged. I want to you recognize that as much as you love your son, there will be certain things that he can’t get from you directly. This is not a bad thing. God made mothers and fathers to play equal but unique roles within the child’s life. The same can be said for single fathers. As his mother, you can still make sure he gets what he needs. God is so good that He will help you no matter what your circumstances are.