A love letter for the soul
Valentine’s is a tricky holiday. It stirs up love, hope, longings, but also pain and disappointment. Memories. Hurts. And so, with a tender heart, I write about a love that I have learned, tasted and seen, a love that now anchors me through storms, heals shame, and enables me to flourish. The love of our Father, and the words he helped me write in my memoir, Love Letters from Poland. Poland was the place where I encountered his love. I’ll never be the same. Here’s an excerpt from my chapter, “Broken Treasures.”
Where Hope Blooms
I used to think my words didn’t matter. They were just raw feelings on a page, scribbled in notebooks, hidden away so that no one would find them. No one would know the depths of my sorrows, my anger, my depression. I was too much for anyone except the audience of a blank page. Without pretense or judgement.
Upgrades from IKEA
There’s a seat at the table for you. I’ve been waiting for you to slow down. The linen tablecloth is spread, fresh flowers smile and the kettle sings. All waiting for you to arrive. As you cautiously step in, I can’t help but give you a big squeeze. “You came!”
“How are you doing?”
Can I be honest?
You’re not the house you clean, or the lunches you pack. You’re not the social media posts you create. You’re not the behavior of your children or the choices they make. You are not your occupation or what you wear. You are far more. Far more beautiful.
In the Hands of My Father
“Ok, Sarah, second… now third gear. Good.” Dad and I rolled down country road in his silver Volkswagen pick-up, enveloped by lush maple and oak foliage. Barely nine years old, I sat in the passenger’s seat, ready to respond like a runner […]
Busting the Dams of Stagnation
Guest Post by Martha Harder: Today, I’d like to shine a light on the stagnant parts of our hearts and minds. I’d like to bust the dam to allow fresh springs of water to permeate every facet of our beings.
Give Yourself Permission
Guest Post by Denise Prosser: “I’m sorry,” my boss began, “but I’m no longer in charge of the company, and my sons don’t share my desire to start a music therapy program at this time. So, we will pay you for two weeks to give you a chance to find something else, but then your position will end.”
..In those first days of uncertainty, I had to give myself permission to leap into the unknown. Although I didn’t realize it then, I had to be bold and brave enough to give myself permission walk through the door that God, Himself, had opened before me.
From Doubt to Hope: God’s Love Restores
I fight daily battles to keep my hope, especially in my new home. I’m sensitive to cloudy days, sunny ones, dead grass, dirty cars, traffic. Whatever seems out of place irritates me when I’m feeling depleted. My soul seems to yearn for all things beautiful and at peace…
God’s loving presence calmed my fears and doubts. ‘You, too, will get through this, sweet girl. Trust I have you close to my heart… You will soon soar with hope!’ […]
Where to Find Hope and Dream Again
Little did I know how crucial hope would be in 2021.
It was my word for the year. “Psh, God, you know I have hope. I repeated Romans 15:13 so many times as I crunched around the mountain behind my house in 2020. What about something more fun? Powerful?”
But now I realize, without it – there is …no purpose or motivation […]
Pharaoh’s Daughter: Strength and Courage during Transition
Guest Post by Deirdre Parker: TRANSITION! A word that brings out a myriad of emotions. It can bring fear and excitement–stemming from one extreme to another […]