"I was raised by a single mom"........

I dropped my son's stuff off at the church yesterday in the early afternoon before heading to my dad's house.....my son is staying over at the church for a few days to train to be a counselor at our annual Vacation Bible Camp time.......and he lives for it:) It is his favorite.....so the Pastor and another man were there from my church talking and I wanted to stay and talk to Pastor for a few......I was carrying a lot on my heart, and he is a wise soul, with a gentle spirit helps and is a great place to land from time to time when life gets heavy, but I did not want to interrupt their time.......so Pastor asked me if I was alright, more than once......seeing my troubled feels beneath what I thought was a well placed facade of "I am fine".....and I said I was....and I said goodbye to them and got into my car and started to pull out of the parking lot.....and stopped, still not sure what stopped me, but I did.....and I turned my car around......parked......and went back in......just as that man was heading out......and yesterday I wrote about not feeling seen as the mom I am to my kids by my ex husband.....and uncovering the pain that lives there......and then there it was........God handled it.....and this man said I have to stop you for a moment Jenn......I have been wanting to tell you this for a long time and promised myself if I had the chance I would.......you see " I was raised by a single mom".....and then the tears came.....as they are beginning to this morning too.....and you are doing such a great job with your kids.......your kids are amazing and thriving.....and that wasn't always my experience and I love all of the things you are doing and I hope you continue to do them with the girl's groups and your own kids......they are amazing......etc....and he just said all these beautiful things as the tears flowed.......and that message was meant for me.....no doubt......enough for me to turn my car around.....and in that moment I was seen by a person I don't know so well, but it was so timely considering what I waded through over the weekend........and then I had a chat with my Pastor that soothed my soul in the places that needed soothing.......and I guess the truth is I never thought I would wear the title of single mom.....ever......and as I have joined the ranks, it is a title that both humbles me, but also makes me so damn proud all at once.....a role that is unlike all the ones I play in this life.....gritty as hell and so damn important to my kids......and it is THE most important work I do, and my kids are proof of that work.....and so yesterday it seemed fitting that that magical exchange found me, on Father's Day.......a role I also play often in the day to day, a Happy Father's Day to me if you will.......and this morning, I salute all the single mamas, doing double duty........doing the things you didn't think you would need to do.......never wanted to do, and raising fine humans on your own......rarely getting a reprieve but having the love of your children fuel your days.......I SEE YOU TOO, and so I thanked that man yesterday deeply and he couldn't knew how timely his message was to me......but somebody else did.......Happy Monday! xoxo