Editor's note: Enjoy today's devotion from Dear Single Mom, You’re Doing Great! And Happy Parents' Day!
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He is the Rock; His deeds are perfect. Everything He does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright He is! — Deuteronomy 32:4
When the kids were little, they sure did fight a lot. My son was pretty even-natured, but my daughter had an innate sense of right and wrong—and it was often the hill she’d prefer to die upon. I’ll never forget the day when my sweet Gracie, with all the drama of a little diva, yelled at the top of her lungs, “That’s not fair!” Who knows now what it was about—the point was that she felt wronged, and she wanted to let the world know about it!
Fairness. It’s an elusive concept that can trip up even the tiniest of tots. Maybe my daughter’s words sound familiar to you because you’ve heard your own kids shout them out. Or maybe they’re familiar because you hear them echoing in your own heart.
Fairness isn’t just a kid thing. It’s something we grown-ups grapple with too. And as single moms, some days it seems we’ve got a front-row seat at the unfairness show. Whether it’s struggling to make ends meet, facing judgment from others, or simply trying to shield our kids from life’s harsh realities, we know all too well the sting of injustice.
Here’s the silver lining, though: fairness isn’t the be-all, end-all. Not by a long shot. Because when we zoom out and take a look at the bigger picture, we can see something even more powerful at play: love. Yep, you heard me: love trumps fairness every time. So when my kiddos found themselves in a time-out showdown, we didn’t just focus on who was right or wrong. The more important lesson to learn wasn’t “What’s fair?” but “What’s the loving thing to do here?”
You may feel unfairly treated today, maybe by your ex-spouse, your ex-in-laws, people at church, or your boss at work.
Let love be your powerful secret sauce that can turn your potential meltdown into a teachable moment.
Extend grace and forgiveness, even when it feels like the scales of justice are tipped against you. Embrace the beauty of love instead. Because when we lead with love, we’re not just teaching our kids a lesson about fairness, we’re showing them what it means to live like Jesus.
Heavenly Father,
You are fair and just. I trust You with the parts of my life that seem “unfair,” and I choose to focus instead on Your love and grace this day.
Amen.
Excerpted with permission from Dear Single Mom, You’re Doing Great! copyright DaySpring.
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Your Turn
Do you sometimes feel like yelling at the top of your lungs, “That’s not fair!”? If so, you’re not alone. Remember, when we lead with love, we’re not just teaching our kids a lesson about fairness, we’re showing them what it means to live like Jesus. And, also, Happy Parents’ Day to all the dads and moms! ~ Devotionals Daily