More than Unbroken

My post today may cost me some friends. But God called me to speak the truth in love. Please know that I love you as the words come from a heartsick mother and Christian. Because of social media, I have been made aware of very disturbing things this week. I avoid the news as a rule. So, the fact that these issues are heavy on my heart means I have to speak up. On this Memorial Day weekend, God is reminding me to take a stand. Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them. Proverbs‬ ‭13‬:‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬ A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness, but physical discipline will drive it far away. Proverbs‬ ‭22‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Notice this scripture is specific about discipline. It doesn’t say to beat your children, so don’t take this out of context. My question is: when did parenting become something that the children control? As a parent who has made plenty of wrong moves, I can say that my children respect and love me,...

The week marked a significant milestone for our family.  My older son graduated from high school. As busy as the week has been, I’ve also been reminded of my last few days as a high schooler. The fact is, I was awkward in school. I know now that some people perceived me as being stuck up. Maybe I was. But in my heart, I was a frail, insecure little girl. High school was not “the best time of my life.” I never could figure out where I fit, and my fear of rejection was tested so many times. As I have watched Wess navigate the last few weeks, I’m thankful and in awe that he is self-assured and confident in what he wants in life. He is ready to move on, but not like I was. Graduation is just a ritual for him. It’s part of the process of moving on. Unfortunately, moving on wasn’t so easy for me. I spent years trying to please people (a trap I still fall into if I’m not careful) and fitting in so I wasn’t “alone.” The whole time, I felt sad, overwhelmed, and lonely. It wasn’t until I was...

I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth. (3 John‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬) I’ve been on autopilot for a few weeks now. It has started sinking in that I have an adult son who will soon be graduating. At this point, he has worked so hard that he is simply going through the final motions of last days, prom, and graduation itself. Wess is so driven, and he is already working in and growing the business he has decided to pursue. Bryson is growing up, too. It’s almost as if overnight, my boys are men and I feel I am staring into the unknown world of empty nesting. Lyndon would say I’m crazy because even as I write this post, Bryson and his friends are at the house making plans for the day. In fact, I’m going to have to hide my leftovers from lunch if I want to eat them for supper. Such is life with boys! I find myself turning inward a lot and trying to rediscover the things that I didn’t have time for when my kids were younger or when I was teaching theatre. ...

“That’s a stretch for me.” I’ve said it. You’ve said it. Moving beyond the comfort we are accustomed to in order to do something extra. It’s awkward. Sometimes it leaves us a little sore.  But the fact it, stretching is necessary. Think about it-you are supposed to stretch before and after a workout to prevent injury. Some stretching is useful to reduce stress. Stay with me; I have a point. So many times we forget to stretch ourselves spiritually. How often do we really step out of the comfort zone and loosen those spiritual gifts and talents so they can grow? I spent years focused on one area of ministry with no intention or idea of writing or speaking. But God stretched me into something I never imagined. And He isn’t finished. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and pat...

The tongue can bring death or life… ‭‭(Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬) Words have power. I have some deep scars where the words of others left their mark. Because I recognized the power of what we say at a young age, I am quite practiced in the art of silence. Now, for those who know me, allow me to clarify. Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. (James‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬) In the heat of anger, we sometimes say things that can never be unsaid. Those thoughts have become words that will hang in the air until grace finally pushes the pain aside. As a teenager, I experienced some not-so-nice exchanges of words with my parents. We said things we regret and wish we could take back. But the words hit their mark. I love to talk! Especially to myself; I happen to be a great listener. But if I don’t think through some of my conversations, I could end up wounding another soul and crushing a spirit....

It’s been a rough week. Like, cry on my mom’s shoulder for an hour, unable to eat because of feeling sick to my stomach, and feeling so many emotions. I’d be lying if I said it was easy to distract myself. Ultimately, I had to force myself out of the bed and just go through the motions of the days. Would you believe there was a time, years ago, when I couldn’t have done that? So, I’m growing. I didn’t cave inward and pull away from those that care about me. Instead, I met the challenges face on, all the while expressing what was happening in my heart and mind with those I trust. To my surprise, I wasn’t the only one who had a bad week. In fact, several people in my circle of connection shared that, they too, have struggled this week. Nothing distracts an Enneagram 2 (Helper) like recognizing that there are others hurting and in need. But I just couldn’t. Still, the fact that we were all walking through a battle assured me that this was no ordinary bad week. This was personal. Even mo...

Around this time every year, I start thinking and reflecting on my experiences as a teacher and consider adjustments I would like to make for the following year. This was a practice I learned from one of my best college professors while I was finishing my degree. I believe no matter how “good” we are, there is always something we can improve upon. The same is true of me as a believer. Have I stopped lately to reflect on my performance as a Christian? Have I considered how my words and actions have affected others? What can I do better? So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. (Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭12‬‬ ‭NLT‬‬) Ever played tug of war? At our school, this is the definitive mark of the champions of field day in K-4th grades. My boys prepped for tug of war by wear gloves and cleats. They even practiced at home. I, on the other hand, do not love this game. Perhaps now that I am older and feel mentally and emotionally pulled in every direction, it’s not as fun. The ...