A Full Moon Fills Us
Good morning... Beneath tonight's full moon, my mind is filled with prayers for the recovering women safely sleeping at the Ignatius House Retreat Center. I don't know them by name and I will never meet them on earth, but I know they are precious in the sight of our Lord. Recovering from homelessness and addiction, I imagine that some may have lived on the streets, under bridges, on the move. Some may have [...]
Welcome Women In Recovery
Good morning... I spent much of my Mother's Day afternoon assembling and delivering welcome bags for today's ISP (Ignatian Spirituality Project) retreat at the Ignatius House Retreat Center. Now, on this special morning, fifteen women recovering from homelessness and addiction will arrive at the MARTA station and be transported to Ignatius House by kind volunteers. Fifteen of you generously offered to donate items for the bags, bags designed to welcome women into their [...]
My Mom. Her Mom.
Happy Mother's Day... After sharing photos from my dad's 88th birthday party last week, one friend wrote me a very kind email. "Sue, did you know that you and your mom both have a physical glow about you that comes from the inside?" she wrote. "I've begun to notice that in a very few people I meet. I'm sure it's Christ's light and love. It's [...]
Unknown Path Ahead
Good morning... After yesterday's post, Our Dog Has Cancer, I responded to twenty four loving texts about Tate's diagnosis and twenty encouraging emails. Each kind word exchanged added weight to my ballast, that deep down place where inner strength settles. One email in particular helped me to envision the unknown path ahead. ****** Good morning ☀️ I have indeed walked this road. It can be a journey as dogs teach us about living [...]
Our Dog Has Cancer
Good morning... Our dog Tate came to us from Adopt-a-Golden at eight weeks old. That was nine years ago this month. At the time, our youngest son had just gotten his driver's permit, our youngest daughter was finishing her junior year in high school, and our oldest two were in college, one finishing her freshman year at Ole Miss and the other finishing his junior year at Georgia Tech. That special summer, all [...]
May Is A Mess
Good morning... The down-to-earth words of Kate Bowler come into my inbox every Wednesday. Kate is a professor at Duke Divinity School, a writer, a podcaster, and a cancer survivor. Yesterday, Kate shared with me, and millions of her regular blog readers, this tender word of encouragement. ****** Dear Sue, Is it just me, or does May always sneak up wearing a flower crown and carrying a bullhorn? There’s Mother’s Day. And Nurses [...]
Faith Walks With Doubt
Good morning... As the light of the moon thickens in the sky, we sense the presence of the Almighty God. In the morning, the conclave will begin the process of electing the 267th Pope, following the death of beloved Pope Francis. The Holy Spirit will lead this secretive process, drawing a two-third-plus-one majority vote from among the 133 cardinals gathering from throughout the globe. There will be one vote of the assembly today, [...]
Amplify Your Sixth Sense
Good morning... As I blogged about Our Retreat In Review, I shared with you our acronym to S.T.I.R. U.P. the Gifts of God. S. – Savor Six Senses T. – Trust God’s Time I. – “I” Must Die R. – Release All Resistance U. – Unite With God P. – Power Rises Up Grow God’s Gifts Immediately, a reader responded: "Sue, what are six senses? I only know of five?" "Holy Spirit intuition," I replied. "That's our sixth and [...]
My Parents Are Oak Trees
Good morning... Enjoying a short visit with my parents in Ohio, I ran across a half page paper on a table in their villa. Reading the words out loud to myself, I thought, "An oak tree. What a wonderful symbol of my parents as people." At ages 88 and almost 87, my dad and my mom are deeply rooted with God. Weathering health challenge after health [...]
With My Mom And Dad
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 a new lift chair and an independent caregiver who visits briefly each morning and each [...]
Lessons In The Hospital
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 a poem we read aloud at our Women's Retreat in honor of the compassion of [...]
Our Retreat In Review
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. Our central Scripture continues to captivate us. The mystery in a nutshell [...]