passionate, joyful homemaking: healing balm for the widow's heart

there is one clear situation that makes it acceptable for a mother to work outside of the home: when she is a widow.  and because of the epidemic of deadbeat dads in our culture, i would broaden the category of widows to include single moms.

i cannot even imagine how difficult it would be to be widow, especially if you have very young children in the home.  i wont even attempt to make recommendations for any one in this position, but i do want to point you to some very comforting scripture passages.

Father of the fatherless and protector of widows 

is God in his holy habitation. psalm 68:5

as he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. and when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “do not weep.” then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. and he said, “young man, I say to you, arise.” and the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. luke 7:12-15

as saddened as i am to see the vast number of widows in our country, i am greatly encouraged to know that God has a very tender heart towards widows.  he calls himself the defender or protector of widows.

the passage from luke shows the tender compassion God has towards widows.  can you imagine the pain this widow must be feeling?  first she loses her husband and his income.  then her son took her in, but now he too has died.  not only is she without the closest members of her family, but she is now also without any means of support.  in this account, we see that jesus has deep compassion for the woman, knowing the immense grief she has gone through.  he sees her situation and chooses to pour out his tender mercy on her by bringing back her son.  what joy!  not only has God provided for her physically, but emotionally as well.

single moms, do you wish you had a strong man at your side to protect and defend you?  this is a natural desire.  but take comfort, knowing that the God of the universe has promised that He is by your side as your protector and provider.

life as a widow/single mom will be hard... your heart may weigh heavy with the desire to be a stay at home mom, but you may have to work in order to provide for your children.  keep your eyes on jesus, and remember how he had compassion on the widow in luke... he has the same love and compassion for you!  do not lose heart, for this temporary affliction is preparing an eternal weight of glory (2 corinthians 4:16-18); God will bless your efforts to love and serve your family.

i would also highly recommend this sermon to you by pastor mark driscoll, about the passage i quoted above from luke.

lastly, for those reading this who are not widows, keep this in mind: "religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." james 1:27

"visit" implied not just financially helping widows, but being relationally involved in their lives.  pursue the widows that God has placed in your life, and seek to serve them.  and if you don't know any widows, pray that God would bless you with the opportunity to be a blessing in the life of a single mom or widow. this is one of the many ways that we as christians can demonstrate God's heart to the world.

what are some distractions that stay at home moms face?  click to go on to the next part of the series