My Dad Turns 88
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 week my dad sent me two articles he thought I would enjoy. One about the [...]
Strangers Became Friends
Good morning... This sacred weekend, thirteen of us went on Northside's first Women's Retreat since COVID. The Spirit created a very eclectic guest list, thirteen fascinating women who said "Yes" to getting away with God. From different facets of my life, I knew every woman, but they did not know each other. One was from my Wednesday night class. Two were from my Thursday morning [...]
How To Treat Strangers
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 of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets [...]
Rest In Or Resist?
Good morning... I love living life semester by semester. Good book by good book. Soulful conversation by soulful conversation. This week, we enjoyed our final class parties for our Wednesday afternoon group and our Thursday morning crew. As "soul friends" studying Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer, we have heard Jesus' invitation, "Follow me." Out loud we read these words. "When you do the math, you may conclude that, yes, following Jesus [...]
Audrey’s Mom On Easter
Good morning... On Easter Monday, I blogged about Caregiving For A Loved One. "Sue, I read your blog," texted Jennifer DeShetler, mother of Audrey, who has journeyed with cancer for over fourteen years. "It's funny. I wrote about myself as a caregiver yesterday on Facebook." Knowing that I am not on any social media, Jennifer shared with me personally her touching words. ****** God's Healing by Jennifer DeShetler On this Easter Sunday, I [...]
Their Plane Caught Fire
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 to the grave; you won’t let your faithful follower see the pit.” - Psalms 16:9-10 [...]
We’ll Miss Pope Francis
Good morning... Pope Francis died early yesterday at age 88, after blessing thousands from his wheelchair the day before, on Easter morning. Jim Wallis has called Pope Francis "an Easter pope, one who showed us the Easter courage that will be deeply needed in the coming days." As a Protestant person, I reached out to some of my Catholic friends, asking them personally, "What will you remember about Pope Francis?" Here are the [...]
Caregiving For A Loved One
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 experience of Easter takes on shades of new meaning. ****** What’s So Good About Good [...]
Christ Lives In Us
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 Enjoy our free daily posts? Gratitude Gift Consider giving a Gratitude Gift. [...]
Betrayal Is A Blessing
Good morning... Okay, so Jesus and I are not the only ones who have experienced the cosmic sting of betrayal. I wrote the final line of yesterday's post, She Doesn't Like You, Sue. Then I climbed back into bed for my second sleep. By the time I woke again, my electronics were filled with stories shared from others who relate to the experience of feeling betrayed by a friend. I ended our post [...]
She Doesn’t Like You, Sue
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 season, one of the hardest things for me to process has been feeling abruptly turned [...]
Feed Both Wolves
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 violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably. He may [...]