Some of my sweetest childhood memories were spent in our backyard garden alongside my dad. Every spring, our backyard would slowly come alive with rows of vegetables, climbing vines, flourishing herbs, and flowers bursting with color. My favorite place was what we affectionately called the “sunflower house.” My dad planted
My husband and I were watching an epic movie where good forces battled evil adversaries. Anger consumed the raging army as they advanced without mercy to create chaos in a tight-knit community. At one point, I covered my eyes with my hands and groaned as I witnessed dark warriors pointing
Every day, we are given the opportunity to exercise self-control. Choosing to not yell at the driver who cut you off on the road. Not eating that extra portion of a meal. Choosing to hold your tongue when you could defend yourself. Self-control, I believe, is one of the least
A few years ago, I went on a hiking trip to a national park with some friends. In preparation for the trip, I made sure to go to the gym a couple of times a week so that I would be able to keep up. I was doing great the
Have you ever been met with a gentleness you didn’t expect? A few years ago, with the help of wise counsel and prompting of the Holy Spirit, I felt convicted of my sin and went to a friend to ask for their forgiveness. Honestly, I was terrified to talk to
I was a public school teacher for eleven years. If there is any career that can test your patience to its absolute brink, being an educator will have you second-guessing your profession often. For ten of those years, I taught 5th Grade (10 and 11 year olds). For my final
When I was growing up, I played soccer for many years. (I have lots of sunburns to prove it!) Most of the time, I played midfield, which means I was running around a lot on the field, passing and kicking and participating in all the action. But on occasion, I
Have you ever noticed how some of the most breathtaking sunrises come after the hardest storms? For several years, my parents lived in a small, rural town in Missouri, surrounded by rolling prairie land that stretched farther than the eye could see. To this day, some of the most beautiful
For over twenty years now, I have had the privilege of being best friends with five of the most amazing women. We have seen each other through so many seasons of life. We have gone through teenage years, college, young adulthood, adulthood, relationships, breakups, loss, marriages, babies, and so much
Earlier today I was reflecting on how humility breeds unity among believers. If I’m honest, pride gets the best of me more often than I’d like to admit. I believe that God is sanctifying us to look more like Christ day by day, but there’s still a part of me