There was a time in my life when I thought simply making it through the day was enough. Wake up. Check the boxes. Handle the next problem. Go to bed. Repeat. From the outside, life looked normal. But inside, I wasn't really living. I was surviving. The truth is, surviving isn't the same as living.... Continue Reading →
Finding Contentment in Your Circumstances I used to often think contentment will arrive when life finally cooperates. When the diagnosis improves.When the bills are paid.When the relationship heals.When the children are thriving.When life feels easier. Quietly convincing myself that then I’ll be content. But contentment has a funny way of refusing to wait for perfect circumstances. Contentment... Continue Reading →
Last week I had breakfast with a friend who had recently lost her husband unexpectedly. As we talked I found that her grief and my grief even though different, had a lot in common. I used to think grief only came after someone died. But life has taught me differently. Grief arrives in many forms.... Continue Reading →
Yes They Can There was a time when I believed grief and gratitude were opposites. I thought if I was truly grateful, I shouldn't still be grieving. And if I was grieving deeply, maybe I wasn't appreciating the blessings God had given me. I've come to believe they can sit side by side. Grief doesn't... Continue Reading →
When I was younger, being lost usually involved a wrong turn, a paper map, and a sense of adventure not knowing where I was going but enjoying the journey anyways. These days, being lost looks different. You can be sitting in your favorite chair, drinking coffee, and still feel completely lost. For me, feeling lost... Continue Reading →
Living with a chronic illness is a little like having a second job that nobody can see. There are no paychecks. No promotions. No retirement plan. Yet every day requires decisions, adjustments, and problem-solving. Will today be a good day or a difficult one? How much energy can I spend without borrowing from tomorrow? Can... Continue Reading →