Good morning... Look at that smile! When my father texted this photo of my mom back home at their senior living community, her pure joy made me smile. What a contrast from the image seared on my mind from eleven days before. My mom was hooked up to a ventilator, heavily sedated, laying unresponsive in the ICU. Now, [...]
Good morning... "I am happy to hear that your mom is progressing," texted my friend from across the street. "One thing that could be really great for her is music. Music is the only thing that we use both sides of our brain for." She sent the music video below as a form of encouragement. This morning, I [...]
Good morning... Our written word community is beautifully living out the joy of 2 Corinthians 9:7 (CEB): Everyone should give whatever they have decided in their heart. They shouldn’t give with hesitation or because of pressure. God loves a cheerful giver. We were given a fun invitation by LaTonya Gates, the founder and director of PAWkids. "Sue, everyone [...]
Good morning... In December, many of you pitched in to donate items to fill 100 gift bags for the senior citizens of the impoverished Grove Park area of our city. A handful of us joyfully assembled the Christmas gifts at Corinne Adam's art studio over two magic-making work shifts. Then I drove the precious presents to PAWkids, who [...]
Good morning... When the founder and director of PAWkids asked me and the women connected to our church family to create one hundred Christmas gift bags for the seniors in the poverty-stricken Grove Park neighborhood of our city, my heart leapt! What a sweet hands-on way to give, to create, to joyfully join hearts with our expanding community. [...]
Good morning... Over Thanksgiving break we were up before anyone else in our family, so my oldest daughter and I enjoyed coffee and a great conversation. I asked her, "So what new thing is God teaching you right now?" Since she has left her job as a medical assistant and is now meeting with people who are interested [...]
Good morning... A group of us from our extended church family have been widening our sense of community as we go to PAWkids on Monday afternoons to help young students with their homework, one-on-one. When I read Nouwen's meditation yesterday morning, my soul nodded in agreement before jumping with joy. ****** DAILY MEDITATION | NOVEMBER 18, 2021 - [...]
Good morning... God continues to teach us about the joyful power which exists beyond death. I am intrigued by the words which came into my inbox yesterday. ****** DAILY MEDITATION | SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 A Death for Others by Henri Nouwen The great mystery is that all people who have lived with and in the Spirit of God [...]
Good morning... "This will be one of the most important days of your life," she said to her 10 year old son when he returned home from school on September 11th, 2001. Later that night she thought to herself, that was a stupid, terrible thing to say. The morning of September 12th, she apologized to her young son. [...]
Good morning... As the Women's Ministry Director at Northside Church, I love visiting with people who are facing unique challenges. Disease. Divorce. Depression. Difficult decisions. Death of a loved one. One person who has been a vibrant part of our ministry for years has also become the Pastoral Care Executive Assistant at our church. Through a freak accident, [...]
