Monica called me in a panic one evening after she came home from work. “I lost my babysitter,” she said, “and I was wondering if you could watch Emma for a few days after school until I can find another one.”

“Of course,” I replied. Emma and my daughter Chelsea are good friends, and they spend a lot of time together outside of school anyway.

The next morning during my prayer time, I felt the Lord telling me that I should offer to watch Emma every day after school. I knew Monica’s finances were tight, and I had been asking the Lord to use me to minister to others. I just didn’t know I would find an opportunity right next door. When I talked to Monica about it, she said, “I can only pay you twice a month because that’s when I get paid.”

“I want to do it just as a favor, not for money,” I insisted. “I’m always here when the girls get off the bus anyway. They’ll enjoy spending time together.” Monica protested, but I told her my husband had already agreed, and I wanted to be obedient to the Lord.

Single moms have a tough assignment. Most are working mothers who not only have to put food on the table and pay the rent, but also many must arrange for babysitters, keep up with the housework, help with homework, and hopefully find a moment to themselves once in a while. If you know of single moms in your church or area, ask God for wisdom about what you can do to help them and their children.