Two years ago I interviewed a woman whose resilience and courage are truly remarkable. Zipporah Mwikali Ngwatu became a single mother the day her son was born. His father wanted nothing to do with him from the time he learned about Zipporah’s pregnancy.
I was reminded of her story this week when I was thinking about some of my own challenges as a mother. I am a single parent and I often ask myself whether I am doing a good enough job raising my children. Am I making enough sacrifices? Am I saving enough for their future? Are my meals healthy enough? Am I spending enough quality time with them?
Today I want to celebrate all the single mothers who are pursuing their dreams and running their households. It takes courage to lead a single-parent home, and while most of us never planned to be single mothers, we’re stepping up to the plate and doing a commendable job with God’s help.
Trust your decisions
As a single mother, you are often questioned more about the decisions you make for your children. Unfortunately, people may think your decision isn’t logical unless it is rubber stamped by the child’s father or another male figure. Zipporah’s son had significant health challenges from birth and she had to figure out how she was going to single-handedly provide for him and care for him simultaneously.
He could not do anything for himself. He couldn’t talk; he couldn’t sit. But he made me stronger.”
Zipporah Mwikali Ngwatu
Sometimes it meant giving up the only job she had because it was too demanding and didn’t allow her to care for her special needs child. To many, the idea was preposterous, but Zipporah leaned into her faith and believed God would step in and work everything out. She knew she had to leave her job even though she didn’t have another one line up and trusted that decision.
“They asked if I had another job, I said, ‘No, but God will provide.’”
Zipporah Mwikali Ngwatu
Other times she had to make difficult decisions like relocating and leaving her child in the care of someone else while she settled.
Chasing your dreams isn’t selfish
Just because you are raising children doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pursue fulfillment in life. Sometimes we feel guilty about this as single mothers. While we may need to wait for the right time, I truly believe that we should reach for the opportunities God presents to us. Zipporah chased her dream of becoming a news anchor, which she eventually accomplished.
There is plenty to celebrate about Zipporah’s story, and when things took an unexpected turn, she dug deep to get through the toughest time in her life.
“There is no way God will let you go through all that hardship without a purpose.”
Zipporah Mwikali Ngwatu
I love how she remained confident that God had a purpose for her pain.
Read her story below. What gems do you find in her story?
Vimbai E. is a content marketer, ghostwriter, and the founder of The Weight She Carries. With hundreds of articles and stories publishing online, in print and for broadcast, her love of language and storytelling shines through every piece of writing that bears her name.