It was a hot, sultry day in July when the realization hit me. At first, I tried to deny it. The truth was painful. But I couldn’t escape its certainty. My family member was better off in my absence than he was in my presence. And as much as I wanted to fix the situation, I couldn’t. Consequences accumulated because of poor choices. Everyone close to the matter seemed to hold their breath, waiting, and then waiting some more. And despite a stark refusal to face reality, it lurked. Continue Reading
The Battle We Ignore: Loved Ones, Addiction, and Lost New Years Resolutions
I didn’t plan to write this post for you today. I had an outline for New Year’s possibilities and dreams, goal-setting and fresh starts. But the truth is, that isn’t what was on my heart. Traveling over five hundred miles to my South Carolina home for the holidays brought plenty of opportunity to reflect and look forward. But it also brought a reminder that for some, starting over because of a new date on the calendar isn’t so easy. For some, it’s not even a possibility. We serve a God Continue Reading
When Your Grief is for Someone Still Living {Rays in the Storm Series}
Hey friends. Today we conclude our Rays in the Storm series and I want to offer a heartfelt thanks to everyone who has contributed, commented, read, shared and truly made this a series a blessing. We couldn't have done this without you! I spent a lot of time thinking about what I wanted to write for this final post. We've talked about many different types of loss, but there's one we haven't touched on. So today, it's my prayer that I address a delicate but very real topic in a sincere, sensitive Continue Reading