This week I am sharing the next part of my conference talk given in 2023. In this part of the series, I will explain the allegory I posted previously and describe my personal struggles with postpartum depression and anxiety. I have redacted some of the names to protect my family’s privacy, but otherwise, this is all as it was originally delivered. This is my story, and although couched in the form of a fairy tale allegory, it is all true. If you’ve heard my testimony of salvation, you know that I was raised in a Christian home, had a good…
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The Road goes ever on and on Down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, And I must follow, if I can, Pursuing it with eager feet, Until it joins some larger way, Where many paths and errands meet. J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of The Rings The year began as others have, with new plans and goals and hopes. We try to think ahead and prepare ourselves as best we can, but as humans we never can tell what the future holds. And this year has shown us all, I think, how…
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When I first saw this prompt, my mind went straight to the idea of capturing moments and memories, thus, the camera graphic. As I sit down to write tonight, however, I am more drawn to the verse below about taking every thought captive to obey Christ. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 My tendency is toward worry and anxiety and negative thought patterns. Over the past year in particular, life has changed in many ways, and I am on a journey to…
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Not a day goes by that I don’t pray several times for help from God. Most of the time, it’s a quick prayer in the midst of sibling conflict between my two children. But in the morning, I usually do have time for more focussed, less desperate prayers. However, I have found that those short send-ups for patience, wisdom and grace in moments of desperation are still meaningful. I am learning these days that I cannot control my children or the outcome of my parenting. I can only do what I think is best at the time and pray for…
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I’m playing catch-up again tonight! Here’s a late post with the prompt from yesterday… The act of asking questions is the beginning of contemplation. When I contemplate, I ask questions of myself, of the world and of God. . . Questions that don’t always have to have an answer. . . Questions that make me think beyond my daily concerns. Contemplation is my soul searching, my mind seeking, my heart longing for something beyond myself. I ask life’s philosophical questions. I ask practical and pragmatic questions. I sit and think and wonder and listen. Contemplation requires asking. It also requires silence and time…