“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 One Cyber Monday, years ago, I awoke, happy to be home. Traveling most of the week before, I…
Category: Challenges
Too Busy for a Holiday
The sweet sounds of Christmas carols filled the air. The grocery store’s music reminded me of the upcoming season. In year’s past, the reminder overwhelmed me. For the woman of the house, the to-do list is endless: Menu planning. Grocery shopping. Cooking. Cleaning. Baking. Pinning ideas. Crafting. Decorating. Floral arranging. Preparing the guest room. Buying…
The Gift of Presence
Have you ever been alone in a really difficult situation? The day after I was diagnosed with cancer, I awoke alone. We were new to the neighborhood. All family was out-of-state. My husband went to work. Our three little daughters needed breakfast. I needed to care for them. Alone. At nine that morning, the doorbell…
Cast My Cares
“He is with us, He is with always, always,” the chorus from Love and the Outcome’s song burned in my mind. Yes, He is. But oh, sometimes, it is so hard to wait on Him. In a two-month time span this autumn, I watched all three of my children journey through life-threatening situations. All three….
Time to Praise
The moment I awoke, the worries flooded my mind. I had grave concerns, troubles on my hearts, and loved ones facing challenges. I began my daily exercise routine, turning on the praise music. Listen to the words. Recall God is bigger than any and all of these concerns, I told myself. I refocused on the…
‘Just’ Pray
5:30 am. I arise and descend down the stairs to begin my morning exercise. If I don’t exercise at that hour, I may never get back to it during the day. Plus, I love beginning my day to the beat of Christian rock music. Propelling my feet into motion, prompting my heart to recall God’s…
Lord, I Need You
“Mom, I need you.” My hands stopped dinner preparations and my heart constricted as my eyes took in the sight. Our ten-year-old diabetic daughter was having trouble getting enough blood to fill her pre-dinner test strip. I assisted her, and we celebrated her “in range” result. As she left the kitchen, I reflected on how…
Are You Ready?
“I don’t get it,” I said to our teenage daughter. I was staring at a disposable coffee cup sitting on the counter. It had lines marking amounts vertically ascending the cup. The confusion settled upon me as I read the verbiage with each line: No Not Yet Closer Almost There Ready “This cup must have…
With God, You Got This!
I wish I were the mom who packs perfect school lunches everyday. I would box balanced, delicious food topped with a napkin. That paper napkin would be scrawled upon with words of wisdom. Every new school year I vow I will turn that dream into a reality. On a recent manic morning, I folded a…
Growing Through the Storm
Ever tire of the storms of life? Ever feel sapped by the endless harassment of hurricanes, the torment of tornadoes, the frustrations of floods overtaking your days, weeks, even years? Maybe like me, you’ve thought the best days in the garden of life are the days of warm sunshine, followed by a gentle evening rain….