End of Self

You try to make sense of this new way and the expectations that are evident. There is no going back. You can’t be the same once you’ve crossed over into new territory. To go back would be impossible. All has changed around you, but the struggle becomes rooted in the fact that you have not…

Woman

Woman. I was born the only girl in a family of 5 children. My first memory of being a woman, different from man, was in Kindergarten. I sat across from a boy who intrigued me. He played with toys I’d never seen before and spoke a different language. In my mind he seemed stronger than…

Compassion

Self-esteem is defined as “confidence in one’s own worth or abilities; self-respect.”  The difficulty with self-esteem is who or what deems you worthy? If we try something with great confidence but “fail” in the eyes of our family, boss, or self, we begin to judge ourselves to only be good or bad. Today, I’m good…

SAFE

We can be addicted to safety.  What makes me feel secure, at all cost, I will establish. We spend money, resources, and time in an effort to bring stability and a sense of control. If you are a parent, you realize the importance of stability and predictability.  Children need stability to survive and grow into…

Clean

As a little girl growing up in a rural area, the dump was a place you visited often. This sounds so strange, but I loved riding with my dad to the dump. As an adult, that’s the last errand on my list of favorites. Perhaps it was the time in the car with my dad,…

Carefree Living

I’m a control freak like most moms.  We can’t help ourselves.  Even if you claim first prize in the “hands off approach”, when the stakes are high, I’m sure you rev up the engine of your helicopter. Maybe not, but it brings me comfort knowing you might.  You know, normalization. I could share the crazy…

Pierre de Coubertin

Kindness. The quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate (Merriam-Webster) In all that we can give to those around us in our daily lives, kindness, by far, is the greatest gift. Kindness takes time and focus. Often, an act of sincere kindness means foregoing your goals or agenda. Sharrin, in our Toastmaster’s group, gave an awe-inspiring…

Feel the Rain On Your Skin

Thank you for the struggle. My flesh finally acknowledged with great joy the gift from God. A circumcision of the heart. God gave Noah, after a magnitude of life experiences and obedience to the Word of God, a beautiful rainbow. The first rainbow ever to pan across the sky–just for Noah. Can you imagine the…

The Lamb

The lamb’s appearance was overwhelming. As I gazed upon the Lamb, His beauty, gentleness, and kindness were felt. The sunset in all the colors, warmth, and majesty. The twinkle in the eyes of a baby when they laugh. Certain visualizations can be known by the soul and mind beyond what a camera can capture. This was…

Ava Maria

She was at her lowest point. Alcoholic. Bulimia. Questionable relationships. Her family and friends had called off the search team, and they gave her an ultimatum through fearful and sad tears. Her last direction from them was to see a priest. As she walked into the sanctuary, the carpet, the candles, and the smell of…