Single Parenting: What Are Your Children Feeling? - Living Free - November 12
Single Parenting: What Are Your Children Feeling?
Thursday, November 12, 2020
Living Free Every Day®
A ministry of LivingFree.org
Today's Scripture
"If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won't correct you for asking." James 1:5 CEV
Thoughts for Today
If you have recently lost a spouse due to divorce or death, do you have any idea what your children are thinking and feeling?
It is only when you understand how your children are feeling about a certain situation that you will be able to help them deal with their feelings. It is not healthy to overlook your child's emotional reaction to having lost or never having had a parent even if that child seems, on the surface, to have no problem. Children are great pretenders, especially if they do not want to deal with painful emotions.
Consider this …
Ask your children in a nonjudgmental way how they are feeling about their situation. Allow them to express their own emotions freely, without any recriminations or guilt. In some cases, it might be helpful to enlist the services of a Christian counselor trained in helping children. For younger children, counselors sometimes use play therapy to provide a safe environment for the child to honestly express his or her feelings.
Ask God to give you wisdom and sensitivity in helping your children. He loves you—and your children—and will be with you every step of the way. Just talk to him and trust him. He will show you the way.
Prayer
Lord, help me be sensitive to my children's needs. Teach me to approach them in such a way that they are able to freely express their feelings. Give me wisdom, I pray. In Jesus' name …
These thoughts were drawn from … The Single Christian: Living as One in a World of Twos by Dr. Elizabeth Holland. In a world where everyone seems to have a mate, it is difficult to live life as a single person. Whether you have never been married, are divorced or are widowed, this study is for you. In The Single Christian, Dr. Holland examines many of the different facets of singleness, from rejection; bitterness and unforgiveness; loneliness; to dating; single parenting and the positives of being single. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups, and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals.
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