Early Morning Moments The time was 2 a.m. I could hear the deep, rhythmic breathing of my husband as I fed our newborn son. Since I don’t fall asleep easily, I had already been awake most of the night. A few years earlier this would have been really stressful for me, but after four children […]

Joy and Happiness Joy, in my opinion, is the most confusing virtue of the fruit of the Spirit. Often, we think of joy as being synonymous with happiness. Happiness, however, is a feeling that comes and goes. We have all experienced the fleeting nature of happiness, only to find ourselves searching for satisfaction again the […]

the cycle of seclusion It’s been a long day. You are exhausted as you pull into your garage and close the door behind you, grateful for a neighborhood that values seclusion as much as you do. Life regularly looks like closed doors and quiet evenings. On Sunday your pastor might mention hospitality. You cringe a […]

the weight of words I walked down the aisle in the white dress I’d dreamed about pretty much my whole life. My dad gave me away, and almost everyone I loved watched as I turned to face the man who was about to become my husband. My heart raced while the pastor spoke, and when […]

bitter peel If you have ever bitten into the skin of citrus fruit, you know the strong, sour taste that immediately hits your tongue. Adults know the skin isn’t meant to be eaten, so we peel away the bright outer layer before sinking our teeth into a tangerine. But babies often have to learn this […]