“This is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another” (1 John 3:11 ESV). A hand-painted sign above my front door reads “Love one another” in elegant script. While the lettering and words are beautiful, I have the sentiment displayed there not because I like how it looks,…
Did I offer peace today? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come. ~Henri Nouwen…
Most of us know someone who struggles with their health. Perhaps they’ve been diagnosed with a physical chronic illness, or they struggle daily with their mental health. As their friend, we seek to love and serve them in their suffering. But how often do we remember their children? Three ways children can suffer when their…
I love everything about photography. Pictures tell stories and spark imaginations. Images invite us to wonder, celebrate, mourn, and remember. They provide glimpses of life, history, and potential without saying a single word. During my senior year in college, I signed up for a beginner-level photography class with aspirations of learning how to capture wonderful…
Recently I was waiting in the return line at our local Costco. That line during the holiday season is a test of patience and determination. I survived, feeling the workers should toss confetti at me for my significant accomplishment. However, something much more special happened. As my kids and I were waiting, a toddler who…
You love as well as you are willing to be inconvenienced. ~Ann Voskamp Love. It’s a funny thing. Several months ago I was on the phone with a friend, joyfully recalling how the man I’m dating had recently told me he loved me. “Let me guess,” she said. “You asked him what that meant to…