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
A Last Resort Prayer Changed My Life
I remember the phone call like it was yesterday. My husband was driving down a highway in northern Utah and I was on the other end of the line, sitting behind a desk in Columbia, South Carolina. Panicked. As much as I love vacations and travel, I am a woman who thrives on routine. Take me out of my routine, and I get flustered. My husband was about to interview for a job over 2,000 miles away from the town where I’d spent my entire life. Twenty-seven years of memories. Twenty-seven years of Continue Reading
