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
How to Find Your Way Back to Solid Ground
Not checking the whether was my first mistake. The sun was hot, the sky was bright, and by all appearances, it was a perfect beach day. We trekked toward the water with our towels, sunscreen, and a stroller full of gear. The stroller was my second mistake. We made it up the boardwalk to find large dunes of loose, dry sand. After several minutes of trying to push through grains and burning my flip-flop clad feet, we turned back toward the house. Trip number two brought more success, 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