This weekend I attended the Survive N Thrive, Single Mothers Conference, hosted by Arise Ministries. This is my 3rd year attending. It is the only conference of it's kind (to my knowledge) in the nation. What a fabulous job they do! I just wanted to share some things that this conference has done for me. My first year at the conference I had not been a single mom very long. I was still embarrassed and ashamed at the thought and could hardly bring myself to say the words "I'm a single mom". I almost backed out of going, but I am so glad I went.
As single moms many of us are isolated from others, at times by our own choice. Everyone we once knew is married and we feel very alone in our circumstance. It is not true! I found there were 100's of single moms within driving distance of me and over 15 million single parent households in the US alone.
I also learned to accept who I was and my situation as God does. I am not condemned. I am not a second class citizen. God is not done with me yet. The best part if my story is yet to come. My home is not broken if Christ is the head of it. (Just a few years worth of tidbits)
This years focus from speaker Pam Kanaly was Pearls of Wisdom. The Oyster does not make a pearl until it accepts that intrusive irritant as part of itself and embraces it. God loves and accepts you right where you are just as you are. Whatever irritants life may have thrown at you he still wants you and still has a purpose for your life. He will turn those irritants into beautiful pearls of wisdom and experience. He will make you stronger and wiser. Nothing is wasted when we give it to God. He will work it together for our good. The best is yet to come!
- Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.