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Monitoring Your Engine Lights: Caring For Self

Regardless of how it occurred, becoming a single parent happened and somehow, we need to make this work. In addition to the staring crowds wondering if you can do this, there is a lack of help, lack of self-esteem, and lack of know-how. If that’s not enough, Hollywood keeps pumping out media portraying single fathers as incapable deadbeats. 

Your full-time job leaves you exhausted, but you still must cut the lawn, help with homework, cook dinner, bathe the kids, and do laundry. You finally flop into bed at midnight, only to remember you completely forgot to talk to God today. 

Single parenting for me brought back memories of an old car I once owned. When I was a teenager, my clunker needed a lot of attention. But one day I was in a hurry to get to work, so I cranked the engine and sped off.

I never saw the oil light flashing. The loud music on my radio drowned the steady ding, ding, ding, warning me of impending trouble. Once I hit the expressway, smoke barreled from under the hood. The engine block had cracked.

I learned a valuable lesson that day. Keep an eye on my dash displays. As good as I am about caring for my vehicles now, I still fail when it comes to other areas of life. My physical, emotional, and spiritual life can get ignored in the chaos of single parenting. Yet, 1 Peter 5:7 is a clear promise that I can hand over all my anxiety to God because he cares deeply about me.  

 There may be warning signs you, as well, fail to notice. Signs like irritability, bitterness, weight loss or gain, deliberate isolation, or unbelief in God’s kindness and care. Maybe you are exhausted from trying to measure up to people’s expectations. Much like our automobile, if we neglect to monitor the dash lights, we’re headed for a breakdown as leaders in our home. After all, how can we possibly provide stability and security for our children during seasons of change if we are not well ourselves? 

Thankfully, God’s Word provides us with the means and hope for regular check-ups and maintenance, so our spiritual engine continues to run smoothly. Today’s scripture passages promise peace if we present our requests to God through prayer. Knowing he loves us and cares about every detail, no matter how big or how small, brings great hope in difficult situations. No matter what our week throws at us, God the Father ensures us in Proverbs 4:20-23, that we will experience life and health if we will listen to his Word and heed his instruction.   

REFLECTION: What acts as your warning lights? Which distractions can you eliminate to focus more on your wellness rather than your anxiety? What can you do this week to ensure you have time to read God’s Word, refresh, and recharge as a single dad to be filled with hope again?