Jesusluvsall's Blog

Yesterday I substitute taught a class, so one of my colleagues could go to a U.S. citizenship ceremony in another city. Thursdays I facilitate, not teach, and introduce speakers, so I can miss if something comes up. I felt it was important for my friend to go to the ceremony for a mutual friend because she had invested so much in our mutual friend. But that is not what my post is about today.

Single moms impress me so much. The ones I know at church I consider to be unsung heroes of faith. They press on in difficult circumstances depending in Jesus along the way.

One single mom I know is a single mom not because of divorce or death. She came here as a refugee with her children, but due to a paperwork snafu, her husband couldn’t come at the same time She left the camp in Thailand to come here with her kids not knowing the language or anything about the new culture.

She was my student last school year.She moved in with her brother and sister-in-law, so her children are at the school where I subbed yesterday. When I saw her again, the first thing I noticed was that she drove to class. She can drive now. That is a huge accomplishment for her. She is working in a Thai restaurant, goes to English class in the mornings, and takes care of her children. She goes to church on Sundays with her kids. Those are the visible aspects of her life. What only God sees are the moments she spends in prayer at home.

In America. we get so impressed with public figures such as the ones who write books we read to encourage our faith, the singers who sing songs about God. But in our churches, we have so many real life examples of people who can inspire us with their faith if we would only pay attention.

People like my refugee friend/single mom. She is someone who most would overlook, but if anyone would take the time to talk with her, they would find her to be a hero of the faith.

One challenge I would give my readers who are Christians is to read Hebrews 11. It is referred to as the Hall of Fame of Faith. Read through it again and ask yourself if anyone at the time the person was actually living would have thought the person would be help up as an example of faith.

For example, when Rahab hid Joshua and Caleb, did they think she would be an example of faith much less mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus? Or when Ruth followed Naomi and eventually married Boaz, did anyone at the time think she, the Moabite woman, would be in the family line of Jesus?

So let’s take time to get to know those unsung heroes of faith around us. We might be pleasantly surprised and encouraged. We may even be humbled by their examples of faith.

Thank you for reading. God Bless.