Single Mom Sabbath: For When Depression Sets In

It's here. It set in today wanting to stay. The depression. After a tenacious weekend of extended family crisis, my dad flipping his car last night, and running out of progesterone cream....I am a mess. It would be a day that I could have stayed in bed all day feeling sorry for myself.

But someone has to get up and go to work around here and I am the only adult. I guess that means me. So I literally "put on" Christ because it was the only way I was getting there.

Then I remembered how to get out of my hard place. Practice thanksgiving. Another reminder came from a friend many years ago when I thought I couldn't do another day because the grief of losing my love was so debilitating. She gently but firmly reminded me to go do something for someone else. It was a guaranteed way to get out of my self centered state. And it worked. It works every time because it's how we are created...to love and serve others.

So today I got to love and serve my missionary friends from Uganda Simon and Aggie Paech. 

We hosted the first Aggie's Arts trunk show at the store today. It was an opportunity for the community to stop in and meet and greet Aggie, learn more from Simon and she about the various ministry opportunities they work with in Kampala and Kisoro. There were some new beads handcrafted by the ladies in Banda as well for purchase. They are here for seven weeks to raise awareness of their mission in Uganda and prayerfully interact with others who may share the vision of missions and come on board as a supporter.

I got to serve my friends the special of the day: pinto beans and cornbread. And I got to hear Aggie's heart. While asking about there recent trip to Kisoro, she shared what was the most meaningful experience. This trip afforded a new venture. Animals were purchased for 10 families in order for them to begin a business creating a sustainable income to help these families in poverty. You can check out the new ministry opportunity at www.kisorokids.org

Aggie's words were, "this woman was SO SO grateful. She thanked me over and over the entire time we were there." Thanksgiving produces joy. The woman will mate the goat and sell the babies allowing her a first time income!

Caregivers of the Kisoro Kids happy about the animal and potato project!

Here are the first 10 families to receive animals! This is something that has been way out of their reach. Through raising animals they will be able to meet many more of their needs, including paying school fees for their children

And the most wonderful thing happened when I decided to love and serve rather than feel sorry for myself.

My friends came through. 

All the ones who said they would come to meet Aggie actually did! And many brought their children to meet the missionaries.

And there were even new people who drove from over an hour just to be a part of our venture today! Thank you to each and every person who showed up today. God used you to spread some joy in my heart. I am grateful! And I am joyful.

May we "rest" from moments of depression today by practicing gratitude and by loving and serving those God places in our path.

I would love to hear how He's working that out in your life.

Love, Pam

Single Mom Sabbath: How Reading Brings Rest

I am finding gems of truth in the book I am currently reading: The Indwelling Life of Christ, All of Him in All of Me by Major W. Ian Thomas.  It is packed with practical but poignant insight into what it means to live the exchanged life...my old life for the new life of Christ which resides in me.

I have found reading to bring me rest over the years of my single life. I love biographies, faith building books, and when in the right frame of mind can even enjoy a great love story. Reading can remove you from your current circumstances and place you mind elsewhere whether it be a glorious setting described in the book providing peace or a frightening prisoner camp affording the opportunity for a tenacious act of courage inspiring us to trust in a new way.

Yesterday I enjoyed my  new book from my car while watching a double header baseball game. It was entirely too cold to be sitting on bleachers and I had a birds eye view anyway from the warmth of my front seat as the sun shone through my window.

As I pondered over what all I desired to accomplish after the ball games I felt myself slipping into sadness. That place of disappointment that once again I am in charge of it all....cooking, shopping, errands, fix the Easter baskets, Easter morning breakfast and the list goes on and on.

I allowed my mind to fast forward to this morning when AGAIN we would pile into church....all 7 of us with an absent dad/husband. And I remembered then:

Holidays can be hard for single parents and their children.

My kids will look around and see all the whole families: mom, dad, children. In the past they've shared their hurts with me of how painful it is to sit next to a complete family. It is then I remember what we are celebrating tomorrow and refuse to allow my mind to advance one more negative thought. I pick up my book and here is what I find:

God is indispensable for the truly normal human being. The human spirit is that part of us where God lives within us in the person of the Holy Spirit, so that with our moral consent (and never without it), God gains access to our human soul. This is where He Himself, as the Creator within the creature, can teach our minds, control our emotions, and direct our wills, so that He, as God from within, governs our behavior as we let God be God.  

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25), and this is what it means to walk in the Holy Spirit: to take one step at a time, and for every new situation into which every step takes you, no matter what it may be, to hear Christ saying to your heart, "I AM," then to look into His face by faith and say, "You are!" That is all I need to know, Lord, and I thank you, for You are never less than adequate."

Thank you God for being all I needed today and everyday. Thank you for giving me your courage to brave through going to church ONE MORE EASTER without a husband or father for my children. Thank you for reeling my mind back in with truth that you are enough for me as well as my children.

Thank you for the resurrection hope that we are complete in you.

I'm including a few pictures to record our memories of another sweet holiday with it's traditions.

Two dozen delicious deviled eggs!

Traditional Easter goodies for the children!

Grandmother's china ready for breakfast!

Something special to eat: egg cups and hot sugar doughnuts!

A wonderful family. So happy Mom and my brother Jonathan joined us for church!

What are you reading that's inspiring your mind, changing your thinking?

I hope you will share!

Love, Pam