Have you ever had to do something that just really required two people to do right? Kind of frustrating, isn’t it? There have been so many times in my life where I thought… if I just had 3 hands I could do this, but unless I have lived in the shadow of Chernobyl for a couple of decades that just isn’t an option.
Recently, I was installing some angled 4×6 braces on the porch we built on our shop building last fall. The top of the brace was 8 feet up each post, and even though they would wedge a bit in place, they were just too heavy for me to hold up there and then run 5 inch screws through them.
So, I grabbed Lauri to give me a hand. Unfortunately she didn’t quite realize just how heavy these things were since they sort of wedged in place, and the top of one slipped out and dropped two feet – right onto my head.
The good news is I didn’t say any bad words and I didn’t call Lauri any names… even when she laughed at me. I’m kidding! She didn’t laugh — she actually felt really bad, but it really wasn’t her fault. The other ten braces went on just fine… which was a surprise to me because there were supposed to only be five more. (Maybe I was seeing double?)
It is just hard to do some things in life solo. You might not be aware of this, but today is National Single Parent Day. In my 25 years of youth ministry I have known many single parents and some of them are just the most amazing people that I have ever known. Single parents work hard!
Preparing meals, helping with homework, picking up from sport practices, attending school activities, sports and teacher conferences, spending quality time with the kids, working, paying bills, cleaning the house, providing spiritual guidance, driving kids to church activities… the list goes on and on — and they do those things — solo.
Solo Parents… you are super-heroes! Able to leap over giant piles of laundry and get the wash done! Able to drive your kids to school events with the skill of a NASCAR driver! Able to provide meals at a moment’s notice! So today I honor those parents who have dug down deep for the love of their kids. May God bless them and give much grace, patience and strength. Church family, let’s pray… and from time to time… let’s offer a helping hand as well.
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