singleparentoftheweek * Jill Smith
From Bruce: “I’m nominating Jill Smith to be honored as an incredible single parent. This will most likely be a story you’ve not heard before.
Let me start by telling you that I’ve known Jill Smith since she was a freshman in high school. Looking back it has been such an honor to watch her blossom in the Lord. Jill is the quintessential mommy, truly I tell you she is what all mommies strive to be. She has five beautiful loving children, ages 14 to 7, and all have a heart for God and are a living testimony to her faithfulness.
She works full-time then rushes home to fix them dinner, helps the with their homework, loves on them all and makes sure all of their needs are met emotionally, spiritually, and physically. In all the years I’ve known her, she has never put her needs in front of anything or anyone, whether she is volunteering with the children’s group at church or being a team mom.
She defines the term “Christian Lady”. She takes amazing care herself, dare I say she looks better now at 43 then she did when she was 16. She is eloquent, refined, poised, gracious, compassionate, God fearing, and loyal.
She has had to endure and overcoming a lying, drug-addicted, and adulterous husband whose decisions forced them to file bankruptcy, destroyed her dream of family, and the humiliation that goes with all of the above.
Through it all she never questioned God or her faith. She never let her children suffer the ill effects.
She embodies all that is good and right in this world.
I am proud to call Jill my friend!! She has been there for me when no one else would be.
Why is this story unique? Because I am her ex-husband.”
March 7th, 2008 at 8:25 am
i was driving home from work yesterday when i heard this amazing story. I actually audibly said ‘wow’ in my car alone. and then i rushed to call my cousin and she put me on speakerphone so that i could retell the story. i was exhausted from the day and the rain wasnt helping at all… but after hearing this story i felt so… grateful to the kind of God we love and serve. thanks for sharing it.
ps: i love ksbj and the afternoon show a lot. and im really gonna miss y’all when i move to fort worth this summer. ill be there for the next 4 years in school. is there any way for me to still be able to hear y’all (and not just live streaming). like– hear y’all in my car. i know as of now y’all have podcasts of special segments of the show that i could download and listen the next day. but id love to know if there was any other way to hear the full show. thanks again.
March 7th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
I did not hear this segment on the radio, but I just read it. I say WOW too. Not only to Jill, but to Bruce as well. It takes an incredible person to own up to their mistakes. God Bless you both, and and may the children be blessed by this noble act of courage made by their father.
March 7th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I just wanted to tell you how much the letter praising the single mom,
Jill, moved me. As I was listening, my thoughts went out to her (as I know it is hard for all single parents), but I didn’t find it that different from any other stories that I have heard UNTIL you got to the last part of the letter, and it was signed by her Ex-Husband. I just couldn’t help tearing up and praising GOD; my breath just left my lungs
for a moment but was filled with the breath of HIM.
God was all over that story, and it then took on a totally different meaning for me.
I am always moved when I hear such amazing things that God does when he moves in people’s lives. I don’t know why I am amazed or surprised becuase that is WHAT HE ALWAYS DOES. He always comes through bigger and better than we can even fathom, and, yet, HE still amazes me.
Only HE could change that man’s heart in such a way that he now admires his ex-wife. I want to let Jill know that I admire her and what she has done for her family {including all the prayer that she somehow was able to give her ex-husband}. You are the inspiration that not only other single parents need but also married couples and parents, too! We all need to look at your perseverence and know that you trusted GOD all the way, and he has taken complete care of you.
God Bless You.
March 8th, 2008 at 12:02 am
I heard Liz reading Bruce’s nomination letter on Thursday afternoon. Having experienced the pain of a divorce with children involved, I was deeply moved not only by Jill’s faithfulness but by Bruce’s recognition of her deep devotion to God and her children. I experienced the pain of divorce over 20 years ago, but didn’t cling to true source of my strength during that time. I made a mistake, but God was faithful to unite me with a woman much like Jill. We have been married for almost 13 years. What I didn’t see was God had a better plan for me. What I didn’t see was, in the midst of all the pain and despair that God was in control and provided more than I lost.
Thank you for this testimony of God’s faithfulness and of a person who recognizes God’s grace. I am also a living example of what God can do, to those that call upon his name. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus…..
March 11th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Wow…I was checking out your blog this afternoon looking for some other information that was shared on the air and stumbled across this. This is so unique because I have known Jill as a teacher at her children’s school for over a year now. I have worked very closely with her and beautiful children. I have to say that she does embody all of these Christ like characteristics am so excited to see her honored.
March 15th, 2008 at 7:56 am
As a married mom, I am impressed and inspired. My husband and I have a great marriage, but have been through some trenches and still are with our 2 year old daughter that has Epilepsy and two very active boys 9 and 6. We have had to lay alot at His feet due to making possible surgery decisions for our daughter. Eventhough our faith is deep and we know he is in control, Jill has inspired me to live my life glorifying God and letting His light shine bright through my actions, words and faith. Not to get off in my own story…but God has already started a miraculous healing in our daughter and I need, Like Jill, praise God through my living. It’s not about how much you go to church or pray, It’s about showing His love by the way you react to your situations and by Living out your Thankfulness for His Blessings. Thank you Jill for being an inspiration and a Big reminder of how we should live in His Love.