Good morning... "I often think I don’t know how people endure the unimaginable," my friend wrote, "but then I realize I actually really do know - only God. And I see evidence of that in so much devastating heartbreak time and time again. I think of that Steven Curtis Chapman quote, spoken after losing his young daughter suddenly [...]
Good morning... At church this week, I stopped in the hall and talked a while with our Director of Student Ministries. I told him that I had heard he had done a really good job supporting the students who came to youth group on Sunday night. The night before, one of our own, sixteen year old Benji Reiser [...]
Good morning... As thirty of us gathered at Mend Coffee last Tuesday morning to meet with author Katherine Wolf, she told us about the massive brain stem stroke that nearly ended her life at age twenty-six. As Katherine was fielding questions about her book Hope Heals, one woman said, "When you were unable to speak for a long [...]
Good morning... As we prepared to celebrate my husband Steve's thirty years of service to the Lovett School community, I found our wedding photo album from 1987. I snapped this photo of the photo of my dad walking me down the aisle. I was 24 years old. He was 51. Fast forward to today, September 11th, a day [...]
Good morning... To the light of the full corn moon, let's ponder a poem shared by a friend. As we read it now, slowly and aloud, what word sparkles most? ***** Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the [...]
Good morning... As we near 2:00 am, I take outside our little dog Gracie and stand barefoot in the wet, cool grass. As I look up, thick clouds surround the waning moon. Stretched wide and thin, the white vapors open space, a breathing room for blue. Blue. Cloudy. Stretched wide and thin. These descriptors animate the text string [...]
Good morning... The Westminster Class of 2024 hosted a gathering to honor the memory of Audrey DeShetler on Wednesday, August 6th, celebrating her impact on their class and our community far and wide. The next day, I texted with Audrey's mom. Me: How was the gathering, Jennifer? Jennifer: I literally started crying before the service even started. I [...]
Good morning... "Sue, I love that Marilyn picked 'when we all get to heaven,' for the final song at her funeral," Jennifer DeShetler texted yesterday. "That is what we picked for Audrey's service as well. Although Audrey's is more to the tune of Alan Jackson. I love his Hymns collection and played it often. My kids memorized the [...]
Good morning... Our pastor read Proverbs 31:10-31, a section of scripture which bears the heading: The Wife of Noble Character. I heard a familiar voice behind me whisper, "Those words describe Marilyn perfectly." One particular verse lingers in my mind from yesterday's simple service honoring the extraordinary life of 92 year old Marilyn Davis. Strength and dignity are [...]
Good morning... I love this smiling photo of Marilyn. Relaxed in her skin. Always well dressed. Exuding the Spirit of God. Marilyn is one of the top ten most influential people in my own life of faith. Dear Marilyn Davis... We know that God not only loves you but has selected you for a special purpose. For we [...]
