Valentine’s day began as the remembrance of the martyrdom of St. Valentine for his faith. Over the centuries, it has morphed into a celebration of love - romantic love. Like Christmas, an entire business has developed around it. Chocolates, flowers, diamonds, etc. and, of course, dinner out. This day has become a big deal for … Continue reading Happy Heart Day
Jesus
Remember Me
Life goes on. The pain eases slightly with time. The days feel normal and we get busy with them. Then certain things remind us, like a date, the day they left. Emotions and memories, forgotten in the day-to-day, flood our hearts and minds and the pain returns; we feel the loss again. In this pain … Continue reading Remember Me
Greatest Gift
Our family has just gone through an extended period of gift-giving. Over the past three weeks, we have celebrated four birthdays and Christmas. All that baking and wrapping has worn my fingers out. We feasted and gave lots of splendid gifts to each other with smiles, exclamations and lit-up faces. What is the greatest gift … Continue reading Greatest Gift
Growing Weary
So let us not grow weary of doing good; for if we don’t give up, we will in due time reap the harvest. Galatians 6:9 (CJB) Do you ever feel like giving up? Is your heart heavy and your body sapped of energy? Recently, I struggled with these feelings. An article I wrote did not … Continue reading Growing Weary
Tangled
The lush greenery and quiet brought calmness as I deeply inhaled. As I walked with my friend along the path, she pointed out different landmarks and the history of the land we walked. Pausing, she pointed out the high stump of a tree trunk near the shore of the stream that ran through the property. … Continue reading Tangled
Glimmers
Tears filled my eyes as I knelt on the floor in my office, heavy-hearted with frustration and a sense of failure. I had been earnestly praying for something for years, but nothing seemed to have changed. What’s the point, I thought. It seemed hopeless and I wondered if I was not praying right, frequent enough, … Continue reading Glimmers
Mourning Grace
Jesus wept. John 11:35 NKJV Her hair felt wrong. It was stiff and dry, not soft and supple like usual, as my fingers caressed it. The spirit who was my mother was gone. Unreachable. All that remained for me to touch and say goodbye to was this flaccid, lifeless shell. I was jolted awake by … Continue reading Mourning Grace
Better Than Cupcakes
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8 NIV Red hair framed my five-year-old granddaughter's sweet, lightly freckled face as she scrunched up her nose and shyly, softly responded to her dad’s prompt. “I love Jesus because he will make me alive again.” Joy … Continue reading Better Than Cupcakes
Paths
The click-clack of my winter boots on the tile floor echoed off the painted concrete walls. Thrumming filled my ears with every heartbeat, and butterflies had taken up residence in my stomach as I followed the postered and bulletin board-dotted hallway. Thirty-two years old and a mother of three, I had decided to go back … Continue reading Paths
Redeeming The Minutes
Have you ever crawled between the crisp, smooth covers of your sheets, breathed a sigh of comfort at finally resting your tired bones on the cushiony softness of your mattress, only to lay there wondering where the past sixteen hours went? You envision your day, hour by hour, knowing you were busy but can’t understand … Continue reading Redeeming The Minutes