ENCOURAGE - EQUIP - EMPOWER
IT STARTS HERE.
It is Mental Health Awareness Month – a recognition of the struggles some people face, often silently. I’ll share my testimony because it is my constant reminder of God’s love. It is a battle with depression that almost won. My story is no less or greater than any individual's story – we are all different and important. I share as an awareness, as a hope, as a testament to God's glory, resilience, promise, and ultimately, His love.
One of my favorite parts of the Easter story is John 20:10–18. It’s the scene where Jesus reveals Himself to Mary Magdalene at the tomb, making her one of the first eyewitnesses of the resurrection. Growing up, it was easy for me to skim over this story and move onto the dramatic scene where He appears to His disciples. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve heard the story of Jesus inviting doubting Thomas to put his fingers in His hands and side.
Life can feel so heavy. Whether you are listening to the news, talking to a friend or just living in the midst of your exhausting day to day, there can be a lot to be discouraged about. For me, I am in a transition season at work and have had difficult conversations with my adopted children’s birth parents lately. It has drained me emotionally. If I am honest, some days I can get to the end of my rope. Does that sound at all familiar to any of you?
When was the last time you experienced beauty that took your breath away or moved you to tears? When did you last put yourself in the path of beauty?
“One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I will dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.”
Psalms 27:4 NIV
I wrote the poem below many years ago when I was living in Venezuela for eight months doing mission work. Over that time span, three young people who I knew back in the States died. I had never really dealt with death before, and it was especially hard being away from family and friends. I felt like I had barely started to process one death when I would get news of another.
I’ve never been great at sitting still for very long. There is always something on my to-do list and never a to-done list. I’m perpetually doing and can feel restless when sitting still. I’m well-aware of this struggle, yet it has continued to be a pattern since high school that has carried into my mid-thirties.
Over the past four years, 22 remarkable women wrote blogs for WillowdaleWomen. They shared their wisdom on a range of subjects including: mental health, living through the pandemic, grief, singleness, confidence, setting healthy boundaries, biblical strategies, building flourishing friendships, trusting God’s plan for our lives and so much more. Women from around the world in 80 countries have read their stories.
Here are the top 10 blogs since the WillowdaleWomen launch in 2018:
Created with eternity set into our hearts, the human spirit is imbued to the deepest core with hope. This gift is given to every person in the history of humanity. Regardless of our station in life, what physical characteristics that we were born with, the circumstances we grew up in or who we become, the truth of our creation recognizes the image of God in all of us.
I get frustrated when I need to say the same thing to someone over and over again. Why don’t they just do it? Why do I keep having to repeat myself? It doesn’t take much for me to lose patience and start to have a bad attitude. So, when I keep messing up and don’t follow God’s commands, it’s easy for me to think He’s given up on me too, or at the very least, is running low on grace for my mistakes.
To some, February 14 is a dreaded day! All the hearts, flowers, chocolates, and romance in the air is a harsh reminder of dreams of love that have not yet materialized or of a lost love. To some it might be a reminder of a love who has passed away. This Valentine’s Day, let’s celebrate the gal pals that enhance our lives!
As a lifelong single person so far, it’s an understatement to say that Valentine’s Day can be a source of sadness. After moving past the days of receiving Fun Dip and paper valentines from everyone in my elementary school class, it became a little harder each year to get excited about a holiday that celebrates a type of love I’ve never had.
To get more active, I am trying to get more steps in each day. I started off the new year walking with my husband or kids. If it wasn’t so cold, I would probably try to wrangle in one of my neighbors. But the other day, I went outside to get my steps in alone, and I was bored after a few minutes. I literally struggled to be alone in my thoughts.
Every year during the holiday season, we reflect on what we are thankful for and how grateful we are for all of the wonderful things in our lives. Then the new year comes along, and we instantly forget those things to make our resolutions. I resolve to eat better, work better, sleep better, live better… better, better, better. What happened to all those things we are thankful for?
