think they’re the only person going through this.” Thurmond said MOPS mothers “encourage one another during this really hard stage they’re going through.” “The most important thing MOPS does is introduce Jesus into their lives, or encourage their relationships with God, as a young mother and where they’re at right now,” Thurmond said. “I love getting to know the younger ladies. Sometimes they have questions. Sometimes the mentor moms may say things they’ve never thought about, because we were there once, and we know what they’re going through. We can sympathize or empathize with them. It’s not just giving advice. It’s being a friend.” Sarah Higgins was a MOPS member for several years, and now that her children are 6 and 9, she’s one of the younger mentor moms. “They wanted a mom of younger children to be a mentor mom, someone who wasn’t so far out of the toddler years,” Higgins said. “As a mentor mom, we’re there to answer questions, to encourage the moms that ‘this too shall pass’ and these things that seem so hard will quickly be gone and you’ll actually miss them. If they need anything or if anything were to happen, we’re there to give support and encouragement.” As a MOPS member, Higgins said, she started when her youngest was 8 weeks old. “It was a place to get away and talk to other moms that were in the same place that I was,” she said. “We could laugh and commiserate about things which were going on, gain information. There are different speakers who talk about parenting and relationships. It is helpful.” Higgins wholeheartedly believes in the MOPS mission. “It’s a very needed ministry in this community,” she said. “There’s so much commonality there, even though [the moms] are in different places in life. It’s a neat place to find friendships and learn from each other.” ♦
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