Looking for Hope?
Maggie’s remission from cancer may have been one of the shortest on record. After nearly two years of surgery, chemo and radiation, chemo alone, surgery, and more chemo, she was said to have reached NED status: no evidence of disease. We rang the bell on the second...
Endings
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6, ESV) Today on the anniversary of Maggie’s death, we have had as much time to live with the reality of her death as we had the constant...
Letting Go of Spiders
I knew as I was falling it would hurt to land. Afterwards, I convinced myself the pain was due to nothing more than a bruised rib until an x-ray revealed a rib fracture with “mild dislocation.” That’s code for major dislocation of my lifestyle for a month or so. To be...
Dueling Wind Chimes
He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses. Psalm 135:7 (ESV) I find myself hoping for windy days. I have two sets of wind chimes now – memorials to Maggie and my mom. I...
Lessons from the Storm
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. (Philippians 3:8, ESV) I’m still recovering my sea legs after what felt like a slow-motion shipwreck, four years in the making, called cancer and death. And while...While They Danced
I’m not surprised at the Super Bowl halftime show or the mixed reviews of it among my friends. The performance was predictable; we all saw or should have seen it coming. I’m no longer naïve to the complex blend of taste, attitude, and morals that we...Key Change
“For you will not go out in haste, nor will you go as fugitives; for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.” (Isaiah 52:12, NASB) It’s a day made for music. An overnight high front arrived on gusty wings, blowing away the unwelcome...
Alzheimer’s and Falling Leaves
My mom fell last week. Julie, my sister, her caregiver, found her resting on the floor working her word searches. According to mom she took a tumble and, finding herself unable to get up, grabbed pillows and puzzles and made herself comfortable. She didn’t appear to...Notes Made Far from Home, Part Two
And just like that, we were on a float plane traveling from Whitehorse, the largest chunk of civilization in the Canadian Yukon, starting a 175-mile flight into a wilderness adventure. Since we only hold a minute long enough to rescue it from waste, alongside my basic...Notes Made Far From Home, Part One
So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him. 2 Corinthians 5:9 (ESV) I’ve always planned with meticulous detail and over-packed for trips regardless of the duration and distance from home. Molly tells me it’s part of having the “6” wing...Sneak Peeks
Here’s another guest post by Molly Hanberry I can’t count the number of times I’ve asked God for a peek of what’s to come. Just a hint of what the future holds to tide me over until the time arrives. Waiting is a pretty common theme in Bible stories. Somehow,...Even If: A Legacy of Faith
Legacy. We throw the word out at funerals and in discussions in the aftermath of death. We rush to make a judgment and in doing so rob ourselves of perspective to measure the impact of a life. “A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share...The Human Response
The following is a guest post by Molly Hanberry There have been a few instances where I’ve listened to music by my favorite artists and been let down. I’d dismiss the disappointment as unreasonably high expectations on my part or an experiment gone wrong on the part...How Much Does Suffering Weigh?
I’ve recently discovered that a large chunk of the weight of suffering I’ve carried for four+ years is due to my own desire to understand and have my questions about Maggie’s illness answered to my satisfaction. If she can’t be healed, Lord, at least help me...Still Feel Like Your Mom
Death brings to close many things including our ability to communicate with one who has been a constant companion. And like placing a call never returned, I think the silence on the other end increases the need to share on this side. The pressure of my words only...
Psalm 23: How to Defeat a Giant
Psalm 23 washes over the grief in my soul to help restore peace. The pastoral picture of God as Shepherd and His people as sheep strikes at the hardened heart of my desire to survive on my terms in my strength. In the depths of a wounded heart, I find comfort in...
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