Single Parents Can Be Proud Parents: My Story to His Glory

By Dr. Juanita Shaw

Single Parents Can Be Proud Parents—My Story to His Glory---Our children are God’s gifts to us. As parents, we must cultivate, nurture, and treasure them, as well as make them feel appreciated and loved. Many single parents often look at single parenting as a task too large to undertake, and rightfully so, if they try to do it on their own. Through her simple yet inspiring words, Dr. Shaw encourages you in Single Parents Can Be Proud Parents—My Story to His Glory, that when facing challenges, you can still be the proud and successful parent that God has called you to be. When you place your total confidence and trust in the Almighty God, He will lead you every step of the way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 28, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796037135

Dr. Juanita Shaw

Dr. Juanita Shaw Dr. Juanita Shaw is a Spirit-filled minister of God who loves God, His Word, and His people. She is the proud mother of four loving children, a “big” grandmother, and a “big” great-grandmother--the loves of her life. In her book, Single Parents Can Be Proud Parents—My Story to His Glory, she shares some of her personal life experiences as a single parent. Following God’s guidance and wisdom in training children the right way while they are young can result in successful outcomes. Of all of her accomplishments in life, she considers being able to raise her children with God’s help her greatest success story. Be encouraged and inspired by Dr. Shaw’s journey as a single parent.

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Copyright © 2019 by Dr. Juanita Shaw.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

-Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

-THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Author’s exterior Photo by: joroproductions

Rev. date: 04/28/2020

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CONTENTS

A Word From The Author

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Foreword

Foreword

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1 God’s Gifts To Me: Four Children

Chapter 2 Spare The Rod! Spoil The Child!

Chapter 3 Thank God For A God-Fearing Mother

Chapter 4 Pouring Into Your Children

Chapter 5 Raising Children God’s Way

Chapter 6 God’s Mandate To Parents To Teach Them His Word

Chapter 7 Teaching The Importance Of Obedience

Chapter 8 Surviving Through Disaster In Faith

Chapter 9 The Child’s Total Well-Being

Chapter 10 Their Education Was Vitally Important To Me

Chapter 11 Making The Necessary Sacrifices

Chapter 12 Parenting Is A Full-Time Job

Chapter 13 Teaching Children The Value Of Respect

Chapter 14 Good Manners Are Key

Chapter 15 No Help From The Government

Chapter 16 Taught To Never Be Intimidated By Others

Chapter 17 They Were Not Perfect Children

Chapter 18 What Are You Thinking?

Chapter 19 Words Of Encouragement To The Single Parents

Chapter 20 Grown And Gone

Chapter 21 Some Of Their Successes

Chapter 22 Some Parenting Practices That Helped Me As A Single Parent

Chapter 23 Scriptures And Confessions For Parents

Chapter 24 Prayers For Children And Parents

Chapter 25 Testimonials From Single Parents

Chapter 26 Parents’ Thought-Provoking Questionnaire

Closing Remarks

Notes

About the Author

A Word From The Author

You never know where life will lead you. Becoming a single parent was the last thing that I imagined when it came to my family. I always dreamed and thought that one day I would get married, have lots of children, and live happily ever after. Unfortunately, it did not happen that way, at least not entirely. I became a single parent when my youngest daughter of four children was five years old. The other children were six, eight, and ten years old. This began a new chapter in my life, and my journey as a single parent began.

Fortunately, I was saved and a Christian, and I was blessed by God to have faith and enough of His Word in me to sustain me at this time. It taught me to trust Him to help me because I knew there would be many challenges in the days ahead. At that time, I was working for an organization that supported many single parents with dependent children. I listened compassionately to many of their stories and some of the things that they faced as single parents, never imagining that one day I also would be sharing my story as a single parent.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart,

and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him,

and he shall direct thy paths.

—Proverbs 3:5-6

Indeed, this is what I did. I trusted God and prayed for His leading and wisdom. I knew that I could never raise my children alone without His help. I can truly say today that it was nothing but His grace and His mercy that guided me victoriously through this whole experience of single parenting. All glory belongs to Him!

Single Parents Can Be Proud Parents is My Story to His Glory. It certainly is a reality in my life. It can be one in yours too if you put God first in everything. Keep reading and see how God blessed me to be the proud single parent of four, and be encouraged to know that He is here for you too. To God be the glory, honor, and praise! Amen.

Dr. Juanita Shaw

Train up a child in the way he should go:

and when he is old,

he will not depart from it.

—Proverbs 22:6

I

dedicate this book to the jewels of my life, inclusive of my four children (Sonya, Corey, Adrienne, and Tracie), my grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. You are my crown and joy, and it is with great humility that I leave this legacy to you. A special dedicatory tribute goes to my deceased mother, Mrs. Inez Thomas-Wright, for instilling in me excellent moral values and principles that I constantly pass on to my children. My mother introduced me to Christ and she was the greatest example of a Christian that I have ever met. Lastly, to all parents who have been entrusted with the ministry of this worthy calling: parenting. May God forever bless you.

Acknowledgements

I thank God—my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, most of all, for His lovingkindness and tender mercies, for enabling and inspiring me to complete this book.

A sincere thank you to my four beautiful and loving children: Sonya, Corey, Adrienne, and Tracie for the great joy that you have added to my life. It is an honor to be called your mother, and you have made me a proud parent. My children, `I love you with all of my heart. I am humbly proud to have you write the Foreword to my book, and my heart is deeply touched by your expressions of gratitude and love.’

I am eternally grateful for the love and support of my family and friends who continuously encouraged me and prayed for me and my children during our journey. A very special thanks to my prayer partners and friends, Eula Scott and Kathy Mitchell, who have stood with me in prayer from the beginning to the end. This is true friendship.

My pastor and spiritual leader, Dr. Marcus D. Davidson has given me his blessings for the GREAT success of my book. Dr. Davidson, thank you so much for your encouraging words, prayers, and support.

In this book, I have included the single parent’s experiences that have enriched the contents of my work. Valarie Paulino, my niece, and Belinda Miller, my friend, thanks for your contributions.

To my publisher, Xlibris, and everyone on my publishing team, thank you for patiently and professionally guiding me in this process.

A special thank you to Rachel Jozen for your support.

Dr. Juanita Shaw

Foreword

By Sonya, eldest daughter

I was raised in a single-parent home. In a perfect world, a male and a female would get married, have children, and raise them together. That’s a beautiful thing, and that’s how God wants it to be. However, we are not in a perfect world, and in a lot of homes, children are raised by a single parent.

I thank God for His grace, His mercy, His favor, and His understanding. Jeremiah 29:11 says, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (NIV). God gave me the best mother in the whole world to raise