Single Mom Smiling | Arming Warriors in the Battle for Marriage & Family

Betrayed women often ask when the pain will end. They want to know when they will start to feel better. They cry out looking for answers about their children's futures.  They think if they just know how long the pain will last, they will be okay. But there are no solid answers to this. Some healing comes because of what you do. Some comes through the support you have. Some comes because God works...

Experiencing crippling doubt is something most single moms feel at one point or another. What's more is that doubt can never be fully eliminated. Doubt can creep up on you at any time or it can hit you like a ton of bricks from out of nowhere.  Instead of pretending doubt doesn't affect you, it's best to realize you are not alone in your struggle and then implement ways to defeat your doubt! In to...

Let's face it, we all have doubts at some time or another, but for single moms who carry their doubts alone, doubts can be crippling. They can make you want to isolate and maybe even turn away from God and His plan for your good. The Apostle, called Didymus in John 20, but better know by us as Doubting Thomas, may understand your doubts firsthand.  In today's episode learn what Doubting Thomas and...

What do Mary Magdalene, Roger Bannister (and his sub-four minute mile), and single moms have in common?  They all believed and change history! As single moms you probably face obstacles that seem insurmountable, but Jesus's Resurrection shows you that, with Him and the right mindset, anything is possible! In today's episode, we look at moving ahead when goals seem unattainable and some cool things...

When life seems out of control, it may seem like only a miracle will get life back on track. I'm sure Mary Magdalene felt the same way. I'm also sure that's why the Lord chose her to discover the empty tomb, especially in a time when women, regardless of their past, were so often overlooked. The question is, what will you learn from Mary Magdala and the Resurrection of Jesus this Easter? Send me a...

Suffering for suffering's sake is no good. Instead, unite your suffering with Jesus's by going to Him on His Cross. This is where your suffering is redeemed. This is where your pain gains traction. This is where your agony moves mountains!    God Bless...   Kerri   Resources: Holy Thursday readings can be read here . Good Friday readings - can be read here . Easter Sunday Vigil readings can be rea...

Have you ever cried out to God wondering where He is in your suffering? Have you ever wondered if He truly understands what it means to be betrayed by one you love? Jesus did not have to die the way He did, yet He chose to suffer in that particular manner for a purpose. In Palm Sunday's readings we see Jesus is with you in every painful step of divorce and single parenting. You are not alone.  You...

Sometimes we set goals and realize, for one reason or another, we need to change direction. I often set goals that are too high and then realize as I walk through them that I bit off more than I can chew.  When my goals start interfering with God and family, it's time to set pride aside and pivot. That doesn't mean throwing in the towel and quitting. It means being open to the Holy Spirit and humb...

Shame. Fear. Ridicule. Condemnation. How many single parents face the same? Was the woman caught in adultery a single parent? We don't know, but we do know she faced what many single parents have. Picture the scene...The Pharisees want Jesus gone and will use any means to get rid of Him. This includes grabbing a woman caught in the act of adultery and throwing her at His feet to publicly shame and...

I am almost a year into releasing my first episode on Single Mom Smiling, and it's time to make some changes. Maybe the biggest surprise (to me anyway!) is that I'm going back to what I found so much good in and that was so enjoyable year ago. In moving ahead, I am going back to sharing my weekly Gospel reflections. When I wondered if there was a place for me and my children in the Catholic Church...

The story of the prodigal son is one many Catholics are familiar with and one many of us can identify with too. Single parents left with all the responsibility and burden can easily slide into the mindset of the older son. Resentment can creep up when finances are decimated, little ones need care, and you are exhausted and run down and isolated. This is when it is most important for you to choose...

Setting goals is easy. Staying the course is difficult. The devil loves to distract you and pull you away from God and your goals. Connecting with your why can help you stay the course whether you struggle in Lent or in life! In this episode, you will dive into connecting with the reason you choose to sacrifice in Lent - and in life and learn three action steps you can take to learn the "why" behi...

Catholics celebrate the Feast of Saint Joseph on March 19th.  In this world that seriously lacks real MEN, Saint Joseph provides us an incredible example of what a mere mortal man can strive to become. If you want to raise strong boys or show your girls who they should look for in dating relationships, if you need to know who to look for in dating relationships, or if you are stuck in a loveless M...

Join me to discover one thing you can do to help you clearly determine whether you achieved your Lenten sacrifice each day. As I prepared for bed last Ash Wednesday, I realized I could not clearly state whether I had sacrificed as I intended or not that day. One day into Lent, and I already felt like I may have missed the mark on my Lenten obligation. I cringed realizing, as a life coach, I know w...

Are you tempted to take the easy way out this Lent? While little things are good and do add up exponentially over time, they can also be an excuse for not doing the hard thing God calls us to. Whether it's because you have heard other Catholics tell you little things are "good enough" or because you suffer from a fear of failure or struggle with perfectionism, not striving for the best you might b...

It's hard to identify who the enemy is in our conflicts. It gets exponentially more difficult when you are under stress or feeling emotional, which happens so often in our most important, most intimate relationships. This all makes it much more difficult to know how to fight your battles and win over, or defeat, your enemies. In today's episode, we look at what Ephesians says about who our enemy r...

The issues single moms face are far bigger than we can handle with out own abilities. Single moms and hurting children deserve more than lessons on mindset and motivation alone. It's time we realize we are in a spiritual battle and the evil forces we face are not of flesh and blood! Join me in today's episode as we transition Single Mom Smiling from a straight up single mom podcast to one addressi...

The world tells you one thing about what love looks like, but what happens when that so-called love falls apart? What happens when your self-worth is so wrapped up in the modern idea of "love" that you lose yourself when you lose your lover? In today's episode, realize love is not your God, but your God is Love. Then, learn what it means to be Loved beyond measure whether you are never Married, di...

Finding out you are pregnant and unsupported by your unborn child's father is beyond terrifying. This is true whether you are a teen who doesn't know who to tell or an older woman whose life suddenly crashed and burned. So many people say they want to help but assume the government or churches or "somebody" else is going to fill the gap. Still others just don't know what to do to help. In this epi...

What do single moms who were abandoned while pregnant say about their experiences? I recently asked single moms whose boyfriends got them pregnant and then left them three questions. They gave me permission to share their responses in today's episode. If you find yourself pregnant and abandoned, please reach out. As these women's words portray, there is such joy in in the unexpected! And always, k...

I know what it's like to be pregnant and alone. I know what it''s like to be TERRIFIED and to think you can't do this, that I don't have enough... Worse, I know what it's like to think I AM not enough, that I can never have nor raise this child alone. On the anniversary of Roe v Wade and in celebration of the March for Life, I offer advice, encouragement, and support to women and young girls who f...

When you are hit with a divorce, especially an unexpected divorce, your whole world shifts. In fact, it can feel like the whole world has been knocked off its axis. In today's episode, I give a quick rundown of 5 critical actions you can take right away to protect yourself, your kids, and your assets and save your sanity when divorce is inevitable and out of your control. I'd love to hear your ide...

Quitter's Day is the second Friday of January, but we are not made to quit! Our country and our faith were not born of quitters. You were not born to be a quitter but to be great through trial and perseverance! Jesus calls us to continue on in Love. This is true whether you are a struggling single mom or stuck in a struggling Marriage. The call to perfection is the call to Love in all circumstance...

The new year can be a time for new beginnings and the start of a new you. While many people set goals to be healthier, to get financially fit, to declutter, or to build better relationships, few keep those goals.  What if that's because they're aiming small? What if God is not simply calling you to meet a goal, but He is calling you to perfection?  Before getting on the anti-perfection bandwagon,...

Christmas can be tough on single moms. That is true whether you are trying to cram all the joy of the season into one day or even week or you are sitting alone, feeling forgotten, dejected, and missing your children on the holidays. In today's episode, single mom coach, Kerri Bishop gives tips on making the most of Christmas no matter what your circumstances. She also asks one important question b...