Two days ago, my wife left for Haiti to help with The Salvation Army’s relief work there, from the earthquake that hit on January 12th. It has been a long road in the process of getting her there since January, but the doors were opened and she arrived in Haiti, safe and sound, on Monday evening.
In preparing over the last three (3) months of trying to get approval for her deployment, I had convinced myself that though it would be difficult for her to be gone for 30 days, I could handle the responsibilities and the stress of her being gone. I thought of my ability to function as an individual, and my strengths and my wisdom. We had worked it out with many friends and family to help out, but I have constantly relied on my own strength.
After two full days acting as a single parent, I have realized, I was missing the mark on that one! Things have not been horrible, and because I have a flexible schedule, I have been able to work from home, while caring for a sick child each of those two days. Today is the first day, since my wife has been gone, that no children have stayed home.
I must say, and I know I have a long way to go, but single parents should be praised for their ability to manage all that has to take place. For instance, I have four (4) children. Each of them have extra curricular activities that they are apart of. There is dance two nights a week, piano, one night, baseball three (3) nights, and choir; not to mention the church activities that we all are a part of. If I experience this amount of coordination in two days, how much more does a single parent (all the time) have to coordinate.
I wonder how they do it. I know some, but I have never asked the question. I have never taken the time to see how they can handle the stress of work, school activities, extra activities (for the kids and themselves) and anything else that may come their way. Do they rely on their own abilities? Do they have others to help them?
I thought I could handle this on my own, if I kept my children in their “normal” routine. Boy, did I miss the mark. I can not do this on my own. I can not make it four (4) weeks by myself as a single parent, on my own strength, my own abilities, my own understanding. Nope.
The only way that I can make it through this is with the strength that my GOD gives me. The God of all things. The God who created me, Who loves me, and Who wants my love in return. I am not supposed to do this on my own. I am not supposed to live my life relying on my own abilities, but simply relying on Him.
That is the way God created us. With an innate desire to rely on something greater than ourselves, HIM! At the end of my devotions yesterday morning these are the words that I read, “Today: The Lord gives me His Holy Spirit’s power to enable me to be strong.”
So today, I go back and say, “Today, Lord give me Your Holy Spirit’s Power to enable me to be strong!” It is not about me, it is about God and His strength to get me through.
The same is true for you. Ask God to enable you to be strong today, so that you can make it through.
You are loved. And those who read this, may you be encouraged to continue through the day on God’s strength, not your own.
Amos