Single moms and Church

We have all felt it, an awkward feeling, when you enter a church with your children...alone. You feel like all eyes are on you, watching you, judging you for being a single mom. Moms are certainly not suppose to be single. The stereotype image of a mom is immediately brought to the front of your mind at that moment. You know what I am talking about, that perfectly dressed, every hair in place, mom with the well behaved kids walking into church on the arm of her husband. That image is suddenly making you feel self conscious as you take your children to Sunday school, and go on to find a seat in church.
Then you look around and see all the couples, the ones with the newborn babies, the newlyweds starting life together, the parents of the children that are happily in Sunday school and the elderly couples who have survived all the ups and downs married life can bring...you know those trials your marriage failed to survive.
Or, you are that mom who was never married, and whose relationship didn't survive pregnancy and have been raising your child on your own since birth. You've never had a marriage, but you still have that feeling, that awkward horrible feeling that you don't belong here  because you don't and never had, had a husband. Your child never his/her father and most likely never will.
There are so many reasons that we end up in life as single moms (or parents), and reality is, we don't always have control over it. Divorce, one-night stands that resulted in a child, death (we truly feel this is the only legitimate reason to be a single parent) or whatever the reason is that you find yourself in the Single Mom role.
Here is the thing, no one really cares. They are not looking at you as someone who doesn't belong there. They are not judging you, (ok and even if they are who cares). We are not perfect and guess what, married or not, neither are they. If anything most are certain that whatever your circumstance, you belong there. It is the one place we can all belong. God wants us all there and every single person occupying a chair in that church is....are you are you ready for it....they are all....believe it or not...sinners! That's right, they have all sinned and will sin again in the future. I'm serious! Truly I am not kidding.
As a mom, I want my children to always feel like they belong in church, and it starts with me. DO I feel weird sitting alone? Sure. Do I feel like others are staring? Sure. Who doesn't? We are all there for the same reason, to worship God and listen to His word. So who cares what everyone else thinks, it doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that you are OK with who you are and where you are in life.
SO on Sunday when you walk into church, hold your head up high and find a seat and enjoy sermon.

Until the next Scribble....