It's A Single Mom Thing
Welcome to “It's A Single Mom Thing”, the show for single moms by single moms.
Being a solo momma and present parent is hard work and it’s easy to lose your focus when you forget your faith. The good news is, that you are not alone, you were singled out in this season, and together we can work on what’s not working for you finding Christ in the crisis! Whether you are listening early in the morning or late at night, we are here for you!
Be encouraged. Get inspired. You can do this, momma.
Stay tuned as each Monday we will feature fresh and fun content and conversations as we join you on this journey from solo momma to solo momma. We promise not to take too much of your time and thank you for spending it with us. It may be a single mom thing, but it doesn’t have to be the single thing that stops you!
It's A Single Mom Thing
Stay in the Day Devotion
How do we find peace in the present in a world full of distractions, worries about the future, and regrets from the past? In this episode of "It’s a Single Mom Thing," we’re diving deep into the practice of staying in the day—embracing the gift of today while trusting that God’s grace is enough for whatever comes tomorrow.
Join me as we explore why it’s so important to be fully present in our daily lives and how this simple shift in perspective can bring greater peace, deeper connections, and personal growth. We’ll discuss practical steps to help you stay grounded in the moment and release the weight of what’s ahead or behind.
Whether you’re overwhelmed by the responsibilities of single motherhood or need a reminder to slow down and breathe, this episode is for you. Let’s learn together how to stay in the day and trust that God has tomorrow in His hands.
Tune in now and start your journey to a more peaceful, present life. 🌟
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It's a Single Mom Thing, Not the Single Thing That Stops You!
Welcome to it's a Single Mom Thing, the show for single moms by single moms. This is Sherri, your host, and I am happy you are here today. Remember it's a single mom thing and not the single thing that stops you. Welcome to today's devotional episode of it's a Single Mom Thing. I'm so glad you ladies are here today.
Speaker 1:Listen, in the busyness of life, it is easy to find ourselves worrying about tomorrow or dwelling on yesterday, but not today. We are going to focus on the power of being fully present right here and right now. This episode is all about staying in the day. It is a reminder to embrace the gift of today, to trust that God's grace is sufficient for this moment and to release the weight of what's ahead or behind In a world that constantly pulls us in different directions. Staying in the day this is a Holy Spirit practice that can bring peace, clarity and a renewed sense of purpose. So let's take a few moments together to pause, reflect and anchor ourselves in the present, because when we stay in the day, we make space for God to work in our lives in ways we might otherwise miss. Let's dive in and explore how we can live fully in today, trusting that tomorrow is in his hands. Unwrap the present. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6, 3, 4.
Speaker 1:Ladies, in a world that is so filled with chatter that doesn't matter. It is easy to move in tomorrow, forgetting about today. We just take our suitcases from the past and we plop them right in our future, all that baggage we carry. If today is all we ever have and are promised, then what happens tomorrow eventually happens in your today. First, think of it. It is called the present. Every day, every moment is called the present. And what is a present? It is a gift. I know that that is kind of insanely obvious, but what about its meaning? Every day is a gift and yet most times we don't even receive it because we don't perceive it that way. He who gives good gifts? We just return them to sender by not acknowledging him, by forgetting to stay in the day. Instead, we focus on the feelings from the past and the future, missing the blessings, the power that is the gift of the present, power that is the gift of the present. Oh, I am so guilty of this and I am speaking to myself as I write and speak this, yet what should be so insanely obvious is that what we do today impacts our tomorrow, like the cheerful giver. The point of that story is this whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. You can find that in 2 Corinthians 9, 6.
Speaker 1:So if in our today we are not present to the opportunities presented to us to plant seeds for future growth, to learn from lessons, heal from hurts, speak truth into our today, well then I'm guessing most of our tomorrows won't look much different and certainly won't feel like a gift. Staying in only the day allows us to experience the gift of his grace and we get to share it with others, even ourself. Instead, I think sometimes we find ourselves most likely experiencing a day of fear, frustration, anxiety, busyness, fleeting moments of joy, and then back to some disappointment. We know he says in his word 365 times do not fear, but yet we do it a lot. My guess is is that when we do that, that is an indicator we have moved to the future, where sometimes fear lives. As peace, I have found, is in the present moment, and for most there is some pain found in your past, and for most there is some pain found in your past, even if living in a past that was great, a past where you won an award or achieved something. If you are living there, if you were wishing there, reliving those feelings over and over, then you're not here in the present. And listen, you're not alone, because we all do this. But what if we started doing it less? Now I'm not here to teach you something new, but, as we know, because there's nothing new under the sun, but I am here to remind you, remind me to stay in this day, sister. That is where he wants us to be and that is where we can find him.
Speaker 1:Attraction distractions. So what are those things, those squirrels, so to speak, that get you out of the day? For single moms, that's really quite easy. Sometimes waking up can feel like a distraction, as sleep may be the only place you find your peace. So what's pulling you away? Here are three attraction distractions.
Speaker 1:I have found Number one overthinking. Overthinking sends us overboard and sinks many ships. I have found meaning relationships, whether to self, friends, family, co-workers, romantic interests and even our Heavenly Father. As a woman, well, we didn't get blessed with the gift of being able to focus on one thought like our male counterparts. Have you ever heard of the ideology that men's minds are like waffles, as they break their thoughts down to like one square at a time on a waffle? We're women. We are more like spaghetti, all over the place and all over your face. I don't know about you, but when I eat spaghetti, much like my thoughts, it can get a bit messy. So how can we get over the thinking? Take a pause to put yourself back in the present, whether it's with a walk, a deep breath, a cold shower, time in nature or in the word, something that gets you out of the stream of your thoughts.
Speaker 1:Number two planning for the future. Now, planning for the future is not a bad thing. In fact, focusing on a foreseeable and fruitful future that you want to show up for you and all those around you is quite powerful. It raises your endorphins, your feelings and even your hope. But comparing your present moment to a future that hasn't shown up? Well, that can be discouraging. Or how about thinking of a fearful future that, in most cases, you know, doesn't show up, nor show up in the way that you saw it? As a single woman and also solo mamas, we also do this when we focus on a future with a mate, forgetting about those who are present with us in the moment, meaning our kids or our family. Now, I'm not saying this to discourage us. I mean, if it's God's plan, he will bring that to pass. But making that your only plan, that takes both God and you out of the equation, out of your day and the plans he has for your future, which we know are good.
Speaker 1:And number three replaying past mistakes, staying in a state of blame and shame, only keeping you not in a state of well-being. Did you know that most times, the way we remember the past, it isn't even accurate? The further you get away from it, the further you get away from what actually happened. But you relive it like that was the version you are remembering is actually real and it's not. And what is it doing? It is stealing your joy, which is a gift in the present. What a gift. When we choose to stay in the day, we get to open up the gifts that prepare you for your present moments. Gifts like joy, peace, harmony, strength, courage, confidence, discernment, grace, mercy and forgiveness. Well, those are just a few of the presents we find in our present. We have access to them every day, if we simply would unwrap them, I think in the course of the day.
Speaker 1:I don't know about you, but I forget that my father is with me and I try to handle things on my own, in my own way. Am I the only one here that does that? You see, when I take my focus off of him, my mind wanders to me not serving the we. I get tired of taking on what was meant to be shared with him as his yoke is light, and then I get stressed, forgetting how he dresses the lilies of the fields and feeds the sparrows, not sparing me from any of his gifts, nor you. But if, in the present moment, my hands are closed because my mind is closed off, then I don't receive the gifts he has for me in each present moment. That keeps me right in this day. It keeps you and your day. No matter the trial, whether it's in court you know it has to go through his courts first. He equips you for what we need and equips us for something as simple as joy in the trials.
Speaker 1:Just look and read at the first chapter in the book of James. Listen, we have access to these gifts. We get to share them with everyone around us, and they too, will be blessed by what you have found in your present moment. You will be able to listen better, love more deeply and be able to rock all your roles, building deeper connections with your kids, family, friends and even your heavenly father. So here are some steps to stay in your day. Number one prayer. Give God your first 15 of your morning and he will give you the best of the rest of your waking hours. Get grounded in your day and stay focused on him.
Speaker 1:Two slow things down. Don't be in such a rush to move on to the next moment, then the next moment and the next, like the laundry, your list and the to-dos. They will always be there, you know, even when you scratch one of the tasks off the list, another one gets added. So don't crave a need for speed. Instead, give yourself a ticket to slow down. Number three check in About after lunchtime. I don't know about you. I have found that this is when my mind has checked out. For some reason, this time of day is when I get stuck in the mud, and it's usually because I am on autopilot, and well, that doesn't make for a good driver. I need to give the wheel back to Jesus and have him lead the way back into my day. So listen, sister, get your time back and maybe go for a brief walk. Soak up some sunshine, listen to the sounds around you, splash some cold water on your face, but do something different to get you back into the state you live in.
Speaker 1:It is the present. Number four draw a line in the sand, setting some boundaries, whether with yourself, with others or for your family. For you, you also need to set a mental boundary to avoid slipping into the worries about the future or dwelling in the past. This could include setting specific times for planning, but committing to stay in the present day. During the rest of your day, you even maybe need to set boundaries on your phone or even watching TV. So, as we close, I want to remind us that this is a daily practice and it is challenging at times. So expect it, but stand in assurance that every moment spent in the present is priceless. It's where we find victory, it's where we overcome the things that have been overcoming us.
Speaker 1:Ladies, we need to lean into the Lord for our tomorrow and convene with him here in our present, letting go of the need to control or worry about what's ahead. He's ahead of us, he is for us. So in the coming weeks, I challenge you to ask yourself how can I practice presence in my daily routine? What can I do today to release my worries about tomorrow? What gift can I unwrap today as I start my day? Get excited about this, ladies, as you learn to stay in your day. So, before we go, I just want to thank you so much for joining me today in this devotional time of learning to stay in the day. So, before we go, I just want to thank you so much for joining me today in this devotional time of learning to stay in the day.
Speaker 1:I hope that this episode has given you some peace and some practical tools to help you stay present in your daily life. Now, if this message has resonated with you, I'd love to hear from you and how you're putting it into practice. Go ahead and share your thoughts and experiences with me in the text sharing section You'll find it in the episode description or on social media and the it's a Single Mom Thing Facebook group, using the hashtag stay in the day. Let's encourage each other to focus on today and trust our God with tomorrow, and if you know someone who could use this reminder, please do them a solid and share this God with tomorrow. And if you know someone who could use this reminder, please do them a solid and share this episode with them. Together we can create a community of moms who support each other, living fully in the present. And don't forget to subscribe to it's a Single Mom Thing, so you never miss an episode. And if you're enjoying the podcast, please leave a review. Your feedback helps more single moms find this community and get the encouragement that we all need.
Speaker 1:So before I go, I just also want to give a special shout out and thank you to the Hawkins Family Foundation and Crown Nissan. We are incredibly honored to have the Hawkins Family Foundation as a platinum sponsor for our upcoming gala, continuing their philanthropic vision of Dwayne Hawkins, who is the founder and CEO of Crown Automotive Group, the foundation that exemplifies the true spirit of giving and helping single moms and their kids face their future with confidence, with their heart to give, their future with confidence, with their heart to give. Thank you, hawkins Family Foundation and Crown Nissan, for your generosity and dedication to making our community a better place. Together we can achieve so much more.
Speaker 1:I will be off for the next couple Mondays, returning on September 23rd. Have a wonderful couple weeks and remember it's a single mom thing and not a single thing that stops you. Thanks for listening to. It's a Single Mom mom thing. I hope you enjoyed our time together. If you have more questions on how to have a relationship with jesus or need prayer, visit us at wwwshepherdsvillagecom. Backslash prayer. For more information and resources, check out our show notes.