A Tribute to Single Mothers:
“Eyes Like His”

It is Christmas Eve and as you put your children in bed, many thoughts come to your mind. Will they be happy with the gifts that you bought? Will they realize how many hours on the job you worked so their Christmas would be special?

Your only son and the youngest of your three children, is quietly sound asleep. You tuck him in and lean over to kiss his forehead. As you start to leave his room, you see a folded piece of paper fall from his pillow. When you pick it up, it reads: My Christmas List. Curious, you unfold it. It has all the names of the video games that you have become familiar with weeks before. Chuckling to yourself, you continue to read down the list. You notice that at the end of the list is a written prayer to God saying, “I want to find my daddy so I can see if I have eyes like his.” You have been careful to check and double check the Christmas list so nothing would be overlooked. Now you see something that you can not buy at the store. What has been burning inside your heart is now burning inside the heart of your son. Will he ever see eyes like his?

Your son wants to know who he is. He wants to know what kind of a man he will be. Your daughters want to know they are beautiful and cherished. You have done your best, but you are not their father. However, their father is gone and they have questions. Who will show your son who he is? Who will cherish your daughters?

So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27) God gave us his image. Our identity is in Him. It is hard to help your children identify with a God that they can not see. However, you can show them the character of God. Show them that God is their heavenly father and through Him, they will know who they are.

...You were maturing and at the time for love, and I spread My skirt over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I plighted my troth to you and entered into a
covenant with you, says the Lord, and you became Mine.
(Ezekiel 16:8)

Mother, God has loved you in your times of vulnerability. Although you have been a pillar of strength for your children, He will help you raise your children. When you entrust them into God’s care, He will give them
eyes like His.

Teresa Barlow, LCSW
Clinical Therapist, Associates in Counseling