Yesterday was Part 1 of my interview with Jennifer Maggio, the founder of The Life of a Single Mom Ministries. Jennifer’s story is one of true redemption, so be sure to read Part 1 here. Today, we continue, and she tells us more about how she overcame great obstacles in her life and began her ministry.
Category: Raising Girls
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An Interview with Jennifer Maggio from The Life of a Single Mom Ministries {Part 1}
Sometimes I get emails from those of you who aren’t only single, but you’re also a mom. I want to tell you that I have so much respect for you. You are women who carry the parenting load of two people and seek to do so by honoring God fully with your lives. Being a single mom is the hardest subset of “singleness” and the hardest subset of “motherhood” by far.
When I get your emails I want to speak truth-filled words of encouragement and hope to you. I want to tell you how much God loves you and how He has not forgotten you. However, even though my words are sincere, they still feel hollow because I have not experienced single motherhood.
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Social Media, Singleness, and a Hidden Adultery
She was wearing a black fleece and jogging pants the last time she saw her ex-boyfriend in person. He came over to her townhouse to break the news gently. As he walked out the door she thought she’d never see him again. Then he showed up in her living room five years later – this time on her computer screen.
Like some of you, social media is a fairly new dimension of my adult life. I got my first Facebook account when I was 32 years old. For those of you in your 20’s, you may not know an adult life without social media. Regardless, social media has changed relationships with all people – including relationships with past boyfriends.
Like the story above suggests, before when you broke up with a guy and closed the door that final time, it was the last time. Now you have direct access to him at all times through your computer screen. So what might you do? You might search for him, look at his pictures, analyze his post, daydream about the “what if’s?” and “why not’s?”, and possibly even work yourself into a depression.
Friends, whether you realize this or not, this is a form of adultery. I know, you may think I’m being dramatic, but I’m not. It is a form of adultery, and it’s even a form of adultery for you, a single woman.
I share more on this topic of social media and adultery in my article “Is Social Media Leading You Into Adultery?” at iBelieve.com. Join me there to read more.
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What to Do When You Feel Like You Have No One
For most of my life I have felt like I have no one. Sure, I have people around me. Both of my parents stayed married, and I have friends. However, even though God has blessed me abundantly in many ways, giving me mature, godly, older women who can disciple and mentor me has not been one of them.
I would be lying to you if I told you this doesn’t make me sad and leave me bitter. It does. However, I’ve learned the solution for when you feel you have no one. I’m sharing it today for Single Saturdays at Woman to Woman Ministries. Please join me there and find out what you can do, too, when you have no one.
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YOU are Made to be a Mentor!
There is no doubt in my mind that God has called me to mentor young women, especially young, single women. However, even though I know I am called, rarely do I feel qualified.
You see, I am no longer single. Now I am a married woman of six years, in my late 30’s, and I have a toddler girl. So I ask myself: Am I still qualified to speak into these women’s lives? Can I relate to them anymore? Am I relevant enough? Or “cool” enough – whatever that means?
Recently I had the privilege to share my answers to these questions in a devotional at EncouragementCafe.com. Join me there, and learn how yes, I am made to be a mentor, and regardless of where you are in your life, you are too!
Have you ever thought about mentoring a younger woman? What holds you back?
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Why I Asked God for a Baby Girl
Right after the little plastic stick told me there would be a baby, the next question consumed me. “Is it a boy or a girl?” Those roughly 16 weeks before we knew the answer were the longest. They were also a time of self-discovery.
Whenever someone asked me if I wanted a boy or a girl, I hesitated. I knew the politically correct answer. I knew I couldn’t reveal the truth, and in some ways I didn’t want to just in case it got back to my child one day. At the same time it felt good to be honest. Honesty helped me to work through my emotions. Honesty allowed me to let go of my secret.
I’m sharing this story of why I asked God for a baby girl today at Mothers of Daughters. Please join me to find out what God taught me through asking Him for a daughter.
