My Thoughts and Stories
Personal Reflections and Fun Memories
As I reflect on my life, I realize how truly blessed I am. It was that time when I walked through great loss that I found many treasures. Though there was struggle and darkness through the way, I mostly saw light in the midst of pain. It is my hope in sharing what I’ve found that you too may be encouraged and inspired. God bless.
The Blackness of Night
“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” Psalm 27:14 NIV One summer evening, long after sunset, I lingered in my garden. The trees and flowers appeared black, silhouetted against the light gray of the sky. Although my summer garden...
Wounded by Well-Meaning Friends
“Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” Proverbs 16:24 NLT In the Old Testament story, the words of Job’s friends or counselors not only failed to comfort him but added to his distress. Job wanted and needed the help of others. He said,...
What’s the Difference Between Grieving and Self-Pity?
Someone recently asked me, “How do I know if I’m stuck in self-pity or grieving?” It may appear as if you’re having a pity party after a devastating loss, but it’s normal to withdraw and lick your wounds. You want to curl up in a corner somewhere or go to bed and pull...
Your Pain is Your Pain
“A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.” Ecclesiastes 3:4 NIV I suffered a huge disappointment recently, and as usual I began comparing my hurt and pain to that of my friends. A child who died. A husband who faced a terminal illness....
Broken and Bleeding Heart
“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!” Psalm 42:5-6a NLT When I was a little girl, the heart-shaped flowers of the bleeding heart plant fascinated me. On each arched stem hangs a string...
Psalms of Disorientation
“Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.” Psalm 107:6 NIV I had lost my spiritual footing but did not realize it. In an emotional fog and totally confused after the diagnosis of stage IV cancer, I felt disconnected...
Not Knowing the Reason Why
“Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him.” Job 13:15 NIV Some say I should never ask, “Why, God?” But, when I’m being authentic with God and myself, this question frequently runs through my mind. Why did I have cancer? Why has it recurred? Why did you do this to me,...
Losing It and Gaining More
LOSS! Losing, after all, is nothing we aspire to. We like to win. We love to win. We train to win and sacrifice to win. In business, we esteem the win-win. Often, however, on the way to winning, we must choose to lose. We give up our desire to sleep in and relax so we...
Game On!
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” 2 Timothy 4:7 NCV I watched a YouTube video of a women’s championship track event where part way through the race, one of the runners tripped and fell flat on her face. She immediately...
Secret Weapon for Fearful Times
Are you facing frightening circumstances? Do you feel helpless to change things? Maybe you can empathize with the Israelites who found themselves hemmed in between the Red Sea and the Egyptians pursuing them in chariots (Exodus 14). Maybe you can emotionally relate to...
