Good morning... As we relax into my parent's independent living villa in Ohio, I feel deeply at home. How grateful I am for my mom's ability to return to this special space after weeks in the care center, recovering from two falls, an RSV diagnosis, a scary ICU stay, and a nasty bout of pneumonia. With help from [...]
Good morning... As I sat in the airport waiting to fly to Ohio for my dad's 88th birthday weekend, I got a text from a long time Northside Church member. She was on her way to pick up her husband from the hospital after his recovery from a scary emergency surgery. Airport. Hospital. Our interaction reminded me of [...]
Good morning... On Sunday afternoon, thirteen of us returned home from our life-giving time away at Heritage Retreat Center, having shared a blessed weekend as Strangers Became Friends. Our group text string has been poppin' all week, bursting with fun photos, good wishes, and kind words. [...]
Good morning... Today, my dad turns 88 years old. From Atlanta, Georgia to Olmsted Falls, Ohio, I send my early morning "Happy Birthday" wish to the man who most regularly reads our daily blog. My dad also loves to read newspaper articles, especially ones written by Terry Pluto, columnist for the local paper, the Cleveland Plain Dealer. This [...]
Good morning... God reaches us and teaches us, we all belong. That’s plain enough, isn’t it? You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective [...]
Good morning... Three of us friends often send each other encouraging Scriptures or prayer requests, so it was not unusual for us to receive her text at 7:14 am on Easter Monday morning. ****** “That’s why my heart celebrates and my mood is joyous; yes, my whole body will rest in safety because you won’t abandon my life [...]
Good morning... One of my closest friends sent a loving email for Easter, processing the last six years of caring for her husband with Alzheimer's. She has loved him so well, beyond his last earthly moments, gently ushering him to heaven this spring. She gave me permission to share her reflection with our written word community, as our [...]
Happy Easter, dear friends! Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ now lives in us. And my present life is not that of the old “I”, but the living Christ within me (Galatians 2:20a, PHILLIPS). ...Sue... Respond to Sue privately. Sue Browse our website. suetoyou.com [...]
Good morning... "I hate to be the one to tell you, but she really doesn't like you, Sue," one friend said to me about a person I actually considered an important friend. "She's talking badly about you," another woman said at a different time and place. Of all of the mixed emotions I have wrestled with this Lenten [...]
Good morning... I woke to an email sharing one of my favorite poems. ****** "The Guest House" by Rumi This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows, who [...]
