Intensely Turbulent. Currently, that is my life in a nutshell. As I ride the waves of the teenage years with three of my children, I recognize the need for God to calm the storms. Emotions rage as situations eb and flow. My teens are faced with an onslaught of dilemmas as well as new plaguing scenarios in their lives. Traversing… Read More

Confident that I am not alone in my need for repentance, I will share a secret with you. For years, with a hardened heart, I have failed to love one of my neighbors. Truthfully, I loathed her. With blinders on, it has been challenging to see past to the distasteful things this person has done. Wrestling with feelings of anger,… Read More

“This is your path to holiness,” the priest uttered as we finished our conversation after I had confessed my sins. His words pierced my heart. My most recent struggle with my teens had left me feeling dismayed. I had witnessed friends effortlessly parent their teenagers, while mine seemed to be on and off the struggle bus. Feeling worn, the grass… Read More

A friend recently came to me appalled at a statement a family member had made to her when she shared one of her children’s struggles with them, seeking advice. “Your life is f—ed,” announced her kin. Her family member saw no hope in the situation and could predict the future struggles this child most likely would face. Silenced by the… Read More

From a young age, I ached to serve and save. In the 1980’s shocking commercials pleading for aid for Ethiopia bombarded television screens. I longed to rescue the starving children and yearned to feed them. The drive swelled from deep within my soul. Words swirled in my brain as I deeply felt and grasped the struggles of those suffering. I… Read More

When my family was young, we received a monthly magazine composed of stories of children and their families who lived in impoverished nations. I regularly tore out photos of the bright smiles that conveyed deep inner contentment and joy. Several of the images have withstood the test of time and moves, continuing to underscore integral lessons and reminders of a… Read More