Being a single parent is not easy, but bishop Marvin Sapp makes it look easy. Here is a look into his life as a single parent to his three children, Mikaila, Marvin II, and Madisson.
When gospel singer Marvin Sapp's wife MaLinda passed away in 2010 due to complications from colon cancer, he was grief-stricken. He had no idea how he would go about life anymore.
Sapp and his late wife had welcomed three children, Mikaila, Marvin II, and Madisson into the world. Without MaLinda, Sapp felt inadequate to raise them on his own.
Marvin Sapp performs onstage during the 2018 Urban One Honors at The Anthem on December 9, 2018 in Washington, DC. | Source: Getty Images
MARVIN FELT LOST AT FIRST
The singer was navigating his career as a pastor, artist, and entrepreneur when his wife left the world. On top of his busy professional life, he had to take on the responsibility of raising his adolescent children as a single father.
Out of immense love for his children, Sapp decided to make parenting his top priority and set his personal objectives aside to be fully present for his children.
Eventually, the singer gained momentum and was juggling parental and professional duties like a champ. He even got involved with Grand Rapids Ellington Academy of Arts and Technology (GREAAT), Michigan’s first K-12 charter school, where MaLinda was a co-founder.
HOW HE STRUGGLED WITH PARENTING
In an interview with Huffington Post, the father-of-three poured his heart out about his reaction to being a single parent after losing his wife. He said:
"It was a shock, just simply because I had to try to figure it out while I was trying to heal at the same time."
According to Sapp, it was harder for him to raise his daughters because he had to tap into the maternal side and be a little sensitive about the whole process. Speaking to the outlet about the initial struggles, he said:
"If they desired or decided to make decisions that were contrary to what I taught them, to be open and honest enough to have that conversation with me."
FINDING STRENGTH IN PAIN
With time, Sapp learned how to talk about his music to his kids, just like he would with his wife. They are honest when it comes to giving feedback and the singer appreciates that.
Sapp feels like fatherhood is the greatest accomplishment he has ever made. It was through their presence that he found the strength to move on and go about life after such an immense loss.
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