He walked in holding it last year, on our three year anniversary. Outwardly, I smiled and kissed him in thanks, while inwardly wondering why he didn’t just get the usual. It was a purple orchid plant. Purple’s my favorite color…
Name Your Constants [When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed…]
Yesterday, my therapist encouraged me to name my constants. What’s stable in your life right now? She asked. Let’s name those. My whole self seemed to relax as I slowly spoke the constants in my life out loud…my marriage, my…
When You’re Feeling Alone
Have you ever been 100% sure that you were the only one who was failing at __________? The only one to have have your particular problem? The only one who can’t “do it all”? The only one who feels alone…
Will I Stand Up?
Almost two years ago, I wrote this piece asking myself a hard question in the wake of tragedy. Would I Have Stood Up? In that particular situation, it was concerning a shooting in which first reports said that Christians were…
When Contentment Feels Elusive
For months now I’ve shared how overwhelmed I’ve felt, how full our calendar has been, and how our suitcases spent months in the state of half packed. Then July arrived — a month, while usually not anticipated, was longed for…
A Season of No
This week was supposed to be marked with the excitement vacation always brings with a family reunion out West. Instead, I remain home, attempting to check things off my never ending list of assignments for graduate school while juggling clinical…
Trust Lessons
Our dog hates bridges. Well, really any different texture under his feet than concrete firmly grounded. When we attempt to walk him over a bridge, he lets us know how much he opposes this travesty by dramatically pulling sideways as…
Everyday Encouragement #6: He is Using You Now
The phrase I can’t wait to see how the Lord uses you in the future was almost always included on my encouragement notes I gave to others. With this blanket statement I not only disregarded the everyday moments of life,…
When Your Work Becomes Your Worth
“I hope I didn’t catch you at work,” he says a breath after I say hello. “Oh no, you didn’t,” my spoken words vying against the stream of consciousness going through my brain. You didn’t catch me at work because…
Everyday Encouragement #5: In the Details
It only takes one time. One time — one infection, one invasion, one intruder — but your immune system remembers. Remembers so vividly that next time the same assault comes, you suffer dramatically less or not at all. Incredible isn’t…
Everyday Encouragement #4: All Things New
Monday. Just the word can bring a thousand things rushing to the forefront of our minds. The stress is real. The to-do lists long. The schedule packed. Yet as I woke up this morning, everything a winter wonderland outside my…
Let It Be Quiet
As we enter into Advent — this is my prayer for you, for me, for our loved ones, and our lives… Let it be. Three small words hold so much possibility. I inhale on “Let” and by “be,” my breath…
