Live Loved and Thrive

The Blog

Thrive, P and Confetti
woman yielding to sunlight on face

Living Light

I’ve heard it said that depression hits an all-time high in winter. I can definitely see how that is possible, because the weather alone can feel depressing and complicate other emotional stressors we’re dealing with.

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female with Holy Bible in lap

Bread of Life

Occasionally I’ll visit a social media website built on people asking questions. Although you have a sign-on name. there are no profiles that provide accountability. This lends itself to transparent questions. But, of course, with no accountability it also opens the door to people who have a completely different agenda as compared to the genuine question from someone who sincerely wants advice or a helping hand.

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winter beach, back of woman winter coat and hat

My Covering

You’re 13 years old, and you’re being prepared for marriage, more than likely one arranged between the families. Now you’re pregnant—but not by your fiancé.

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colorful fireworks exploding in sky

New Beginnings

To resolute or to not resolute, that is the question! I personally gave up on making New Year’s resolutions several years ago. I rarely was able to complete them and that left me feeling like more of a failure than when I started. I now set goals and, at this age, add things to my bucket list.

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vintage baby Jesus figurine in manager displayed in moss

Restoration In Full

I’ll miss his face. It should be at the table. I will miss his childlike excitement as he gives me his Christmas gift and his hands that would have received mine. Oh, how I will miss his laughter that filled the room. My heart physically aches thinking about how he would have made the day special for the grandbabies and his habit of constantly grabbing their ears and rubbing the toes of our newest addition. I miss all these things now, but the finality of the year and this holiday without him leaves a jagged, gaping hole and a deafening silence.

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person's hands in the air with handcuff breaking away from one wrist. Finish Line.

Finish Line

She’s gone. My unanswered prayers along with her. I had wanted something more than titles; I wanted a mother/daughter relationship that connected our hearts.

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white ceramic figurines of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus

Father Provides

Over the years, I have experienced God’s provision. Many times I received exactly what I needed at the perfect time, but this year especially is saturated with God’s gentle kindness and attentiveness. Time after time God had already put something in place I had not known to ask for.

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sunset peeking through breaking wave

Loving Well

What do you think it means to love well? There are many ways to express our heart for others, but I think it boils down to being able to make people feel heard and understood. Not that we have to agree with them entirely, but rather that once we express an interest in them and hear their viewpoints, we can then understand their thought processes on matters.

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toddler holding the hand of her father

Modeling Who God Is

I remember one summer when a couple of my friends and I took our motocross sons down-hill trail riding on the West Virginia ski slopes. While our sons typically went road riding to maintain/increase their endurance, they were up for the mountain challenge with their physical strength to power them.

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