Gwen I Harding, LPC-C

05/11/2025

I try to share this every Mother’s Day. Single moms, you may not have it all together, but your Heavenly Father does.

Proverbs 31 for the Single Mom

Who is a virtuous and capable single mom? Even though she doesn't feel like it, she is worth more than fine jewels.

Her children trust her to stay soft, although her heart has been broken. She won't allow her daughters to mistrust men or her sons to feel despised.

She watches how she speaks of and to, the father of her children for she knows they are watching.

She works hard at her job. She furthers her education. She looks for opportunities to make extra money.

She searches for recipes that fit her budget, making sure her kids eat well and healthy. She knows which stores carry the cheapest hamburger and has the best fresh fruits and vegetables.

She wakes early, saying a prayer, asking for wisdom and help for her day. She prepares lunches and checks backpacks. She makes sure breakfast is eaten and the kids are at school on time.

She looks for the best deals and searches garage sales for household items. She watches her money and stretches her budget. She trusts God to supply and take care of what she can't.

She stays strong, even when she's tired. She leans on the Grace of God each day.

She works late into the night, cleaning and folding clothes. She stays up late with a sick child without complaining or helping a child finish a science project.

She helps people around her, without mentioning her own needs. She volunteers at church, showing her children the importance of being involved.

She makes sure that her family is clothed for each season.

She dresses well and keeps herself up. She won't let anyone feel sorry for her or her children.

Teachers and coaches know her and watch her as she raises her family. She brings snacks to the games and cookies to the Valentine's parties.

She keeps her head high and dignity is in her walk. She laughs at the future, because she trusts that God is with her every step of the way.

Although she is not perfect, she watches how she speaks to her children. She guides them, disciplines them, and praises them.

She and her children are not lazy. They take care of the home, the car, and each other. They work together to get things done.

Her children love and protect their mother. They watch closely any man who dares to give her attention or take her on a date. Because no one is good enough for their mom. They want her happy, but will freely give their opinion of the man who dates her.

The single mom knows what is important. She loves her Lord and trusts in Him. She will reap the seeds she has sown into the life of her children.

04/30/2025

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Imagine a world where every woman and girl sees a future without limits.

A world where anyone can be a scientist, president, artist, astronaut, CEO, athlete, or peacebuilder—whatever the dream may be.

🚀 That future starts now. Let’s make space, push forward , and build a world where no dream is out of reach.

🔗Learn how: http://unwo.men/Bjc250UVc10

04/08/2025

Systems should never be more important than people.

11/07/2024

As a therapist, I listen to people, especially women. And tonight, many are upset and wondering about the future. Allow yourself to grieve. Allow yourself time to process. Take care of yourself. As my son wisely posted today, it’s OK to take time off of social media and take time to breathe.

10/26/2024

Yes! Ole Rocky Top.
My home-sweet-adopted-home.

10/26/2024

Women need some seats at the table of peacekeepers.

10/24/2024

Since I've come through cancer treatment, I'll get asked, "What can I do for my friend/ family member, who is starting chemo?" Here's my reply:

Put together a chemo basket. You can do it yourself, or join with others. Some things to put in it:

A fuzzy blanket or beautiful quilt. The chills with chemo are horrible. And treatment centers are cold!

A neck pillow. For sitting in that chair all day!

Snacks. Sometimes, we have to sit in that treatment chair for 8 hours. Yes. 8!

Mints. Helps with nausea, but also helps keep saliva in the mouth. Our mouths get dry.

Chapstick. Our lips dry out.

Lotion. Our skin dries out horribly.

Audio books, music CD's, the Bible on CD. Chemo brain is the real deal! You can't read or watch TV, because you can't concentrate. It's so hard at this stage. Load them onto their ITunes or Google Play account.

Extra battery chargers for their phone and tablet. Treatment centers can get boring.

Journal and pen. To take notes during a doctors visit, to journal thoughts, or to write down reminders.

Gift cards! To gas stations, restaurants, fast food, Starbucks! Jamba Juice. It's hard to cook and you can barely stand. And, it's hard to eat when you're so sick! A co-worker gave me a $100 gift card to Jamba Juice when I told her smoothies were all I could eat some days. Biggest lifesaver ever!

Some cards from friends, family, co-workers. This way, they have reminders that they are never alone!

For a lady, if the chemo will make her lose her hair, put in cute scarves and hats.

Put together a coupon book with people's names and phone numbers to be "cashed in" for rides to and from treatment, or a meal, or… add some personal things you friend would like.

Purchase a gift card for a cleaning service to come in and clean.

If they have children, put in some children's books, coloring books and crayons, and little toys. If they have teens, get them an ITunes card or Google Play card, so they can purchase music or movies. Trust me! Taking care of their children will help them concentrate on themselves!

Be a cup of cold water to someone who is facing a difficult fight. Show them the love of God by taking care of their natural needs, along with the spiritual ones!

10/22/2024

Yes!

God cares more about your well-being than He does whether or not your marriage survives.

He does not want you to sacrifice your well-being on the altar of an abusive marriage.

When we grow up in churches that teach that God hates divorce (that's a mistranslation of Malachi 3:16, by the way), and that the most unpardonable sin is divorce, we can end up feeling so guilty, as if we're failing God, when we just can't endure trauma anymore.

Prioritizing our own mental and physical well-being is seen as being disobedient to God.

Nothing can be further from the truth.

God does not want you abused. God is so angry when people are not protected from harm.

God is the great Protector.

Maybe it is Him leading you out of a destructive marriage--not Him mad at you for feeling you have to leave.

Listen in to episode 164 of the Bare Marriage podcast for more on the unhealthy dynamics that are often promoted by Christian resources--and how we can turn the tide.

10/21/2024

This! All of this.

I’m thinking more about that sermon clip where Josh Howerton told men that if they see a “little girl in a mini-skirt” in a church parking lot, they should “run, Forrest, run” because they’re no match for that enemy.

I shared that in a reel a while ago.

As justification, Howerton was quoting the Bible verse that told us to flee s*xual immorality.

But a little girl is not s*xual immorality. A teen girl is not s*xual immorality. An adult woman is not s*xual immorality.

If he thinks a little girl in a church parking lot is s*xual immorality, there are only a few options.

Either:

1. He thinks he will lust after her
2. He thinks he will have consensual s*x with her (which you CAN’T because she’s a CHILD)
3. He thinks he will s*xually assault her

In all cases, HE is the problem, not her.

The root of s*xual immorality does not lie in the girl, or the woman, or her clothes. It lies in the man’s heart.

And that’s why Jesus told men that they should gouge their eye out if it causes them to lust. He doesn’t tell men to blame women or to hand the little girl a sweater. He tells him to gouge their eyes out.

Why? Because Jesus didn’t treat women and girls as the “enemy”, as Howerton called us. He didn’t see s*xual immorality residing in the female body.

He saw s*xual immorality, in this case, as residing in the man’s heart.

(though, of course, it can reside in a woman’s heart too).

Howerton has got this completely backwards. And in doing so, he is normalizing treating women and girls as threats, which makes it sound like THEY are the problem if they are assaulted. It’s just r**e culture.

Remember, everybody: Jesus didn’t refuse to look at women. Jesus chose to truly see them. And He never, ever called us His enemies.

Now go, and do likewise.

10/20/2024

Beautifully written.

This morning, I met God on my kitchen floor.

Not in a church pew.
Not singing hymns.
Or next to my family and friends.

Rather, I found myself alone with God,
for just a few spare minutes amid a
busy and hectic day.

A few sacred moments of counting my
blessings and whispering my prayers.

We are expected to meet God in the church pew.
We are expected to meet Him in prayer.
But, so very many times, we meet God without ever even knowing.

Because, so very many times, we aren't looking. He seeks us, and we unknowingly discover Him again-a secret blessing, all our own.

Sometimes, He finds us right within the moment that speaks to our heart in faith. Without a congregation. Without a hymnal. Without a pastor or priest.

Sometimes, He meets us, unable to sleep-under the moon's light but before the sun peeks through with her radiant light-thinking no one else in the world is feeling the way we do in that moment.

Sometimes, we discover Him, finally exhaling from the overwhelming day of the stress behind us, on our drive home from work.

Sometimes, He holds us in the weary, comforting arms of an equally-tired spouse, at the end of a trying, tearful day.

Sometimes, we find ourselves meeting Him in the midst of changing the stain-covered clothes of a curious toddler, who spent the afternoon making mud mountains.

Sometimes, He finds us amidst a tear-filled U-turn on the way to church. As thoughts of shame flood our souls, having missed out for far too many years.

Sometimes, we meet Him, arms wrapped tightly around a heartbroken teenager, trying to piece together a shattered soul.

Sometimes, we find ourselves meeting Him, tears-streaming; on weathered knees, hiding in a bedroom closet.

There isn’t a place on Earth our Heavenly Father can’t find us.

In the beautiful.
In the broken.
In the sorrow.
In the grace.
In the forgiveness.
In the thanksgiving.

Because God?
God meets us where we want to meet Him. Where you need to meet Him. Where we think He cannot find us, for anything on this Earth.

And, our Father?

He will come to us 100% of the time.
No questions asked.
With grace-filled arms.
And unconditional forgiveness.

He finds you in our glory.
And He rediscovers us in our shame.

He seeks you through our unbearable pain.
And wipes our tear-stained cheeks.

He shields our fear of others' judgment.
And having all eyes on us.

He pursues us through our darkest hours,
when we question whether He even exists.
As thoughts of shame flood our overwhelmed souls.

All while whispering to our weary hearts that He knows. He understands. And He will never for once leave us.

There is not a moment when He doesn't meet us. And, never for once, does He require a church pew, for that meeting to take place.

Because His absolutely favorite places to find us, are those moments when we very least expect to encounter Him—in the quiet and unexpected—in the broken and the lost—and in life’s messiest moments of all—just between each of us and Him.

No questions asked.
Always and forever.
For an eternity to come.
♥️♥️

Gracefully Woven by Elizabeth Spenner