I awaken early. Thoughts of the day fill my mind even before I slide out of bed. Lord, thank you for this day. For the sweet man sleeping soundly at my side. For my children, still safely tucked in their beds. For the peace that is ours in this quiet moment before the world awakens […]
When Our Hearts Run Dry, part 1
I carefully approach the aged water well. It stands alone in the midst of overgrown weeds, barely visible to passersby. Yet I am drawn to it. My curiosity calls to me. I question when it was last used for its intended purpose. Is it entirely dry, empty, and worthless? Or is there more here than […]
When Connection is All You Really Need
Shoes skidding, whistles blowing, balls slamming the floor – yet, I heard nothing. My eyes remained fixed on the keyboard carefully positioned in my lap hours earlier. An awkward makeshift desk, yes, but my desk wasn’t the issue. The issue was an impending deadline and the lack of internet necessary to make it happen. […]
When the Water is Deep and Life is Hard
I felt as if I was drowning. One hard thing stacked upon another. Their combined weight threatening to thrust me so deep beneath the surface, I feared I may never reemerge. Would this boundless series of struggles ever dissipate? Days into months; months into years. Would I ever see the sun again? This sounds dramatic, […]
When the Water Gets Too Deep and Life Gets Too Hard
I felt as if I was drowning. One hard thing stacked upon another. Their combined weight threatening to thrust me so deep beneath the surface, I feared I may never reemerge. Would this boundless series of struggles ever dissipate? Days into months; months into years. Would I ever see the sun again? This sounds dramatic, […]
Loved and Special: That’s Who You Are
I remember the day we learned of my grandson’s heart defect. Shock over the news. Grief over what may not be. Tears for this little life that would come into the world struggling with more than many of us will ever endure. Yet, we were committed to him, to giving him the very best […]
A Look at Enemies. A Walk with David.
I paused, reading the verse a second time: “O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me.” This is how Psalm 3 begins. It was written by David, heart-heavy over fleeing for his life from his son, Absalom. I cannot imagine running for my life; I certainly can’t imagine my child […]
Walking Through the Uncomfortable into God’s Peace: A Look at the Woman with the Jar of Perfume
She knew who she was; she knew what she’d done; she knew how she’d lived. Entering the home of a Pharisee would have been uncomfortable, to say the least. Add on to that the fact that the Messiah himself was visiting the Pharisee’s home and her appearance there seems even more unlikely. Yet, she […]
Martha, Martha — Losing Sight of that One Thing
I wish I could say I have this Mary thing down pat. I don’t, but I’m really trying. Trying to carve out time – every single day – for what’s truly important. Trying to live more focused on the people surrounding me rather than the things distracting me. Because I’m task oriented, this doesn’t […]
