I was upstairs when I heard my daughter’s panicked voice: “Mom, the yard is on fire!” She had been burning papers in the fire pit and one got away from […]
Resilient Roots: Living Again After Loss
When I was a teen, a magnificent holly tree took up residence behind our South Carolina home. She was actually quite beautiful, but she was too close to the house. […]
God’s Tattoo: The Splendor of our Scars
I had three surgeries the year following my husband’s death. Those three surgeries eradicated an enemy from my body, but also left me quite different than I was before. Ironically, […]
The Sifting: This Trial Does Not Define You
Satan seeks to sift you;He relentlessly demandsTo pound and press and shake your faithUntil you cannot stand. The sifter watches closely;He cannot read your mind,But if you let him in […]
Undone to Become: Butterflies and Sanctification
One of the most fascinating occurrences in all of God’s creation happens inside a tiny bean-shaped pod. A fuzzy “worm” that has, thus far, spent her life crawling slowly on […]
No Regrets
Time is a funny resource. We know we have a limited supply, yet we never know when our supply is going to run out. Five years ago, I threw Jeremy […]
Dear Younger Me: Grief Isn’t What You Think
13 Things I Would Tell Younger Me About Grief, If I Could 1. There is no such thing as “grieving well.” The right way to grieve is whatever way leads […]
Deep Roots and Divine Resilience
You probably overlooked her at first glance. She’s not not much to look at. Surrounded by her thriving, productive counterparts, she seems to be a lost cause. You see, the […]
Making Space for the Fatherless and Childless on Father’s Day
I don’t remember his first Father’s Day without her. I suppose I was too consumed by my own grief to notice. I’m certain he got up and went to church, […]
Sunrise, Sunset: Time Marches On
She walked herself down the aisle. Alone. Nobody held it together, except her. Bittersweet tears mixed with drops of rain as I watched our beautiful warrior princess boldly step into […]
Joy and Sorrow: A Beautiful Song
Joy and sorrow were meant to make music together. I know that sounds antithetical, but I have learned the two are not mutually exclusive. In fact, the song they sing […]
Grief: Gotta Go Through It
One of my earliest memories is going on a “bear hunt” with my Kindergarten teacher. We’d all march in place as we chanted: Going on a bear hunt.I’m not scared.Gonna […]