Celebrating A 7-Year-Old
Good morning... It was not a normal Wednesday afternoon. We moved our arts and crafts activities into the portable classroom so the PAWkids staff could set up for the special gathering outside. We learned all about last week's Homecoming dance. We helped kids make Halloween bracelets with a pumpkin charm. We allowed each child to create their own pieces of art with paper and markers, stencils and stickers. The joy was palpable and [...]
A Deadly House Fire
Good morning... After our therapeutic community group yesterday, I spent quality time with Larenzia Lawrence, the daughter of LaTonya Gates, who is the founder and director of PAWkids, a non-profit supporting the neediest families in downtown Atlanta. Larenzia and I are pictured above. Last Wednesday tragedy struck the family of Larenzia's childhood best friend as a fire ripped through her home, killing her mother, her seven year old daughter, and two of her [...]
Fighting Breast Cancer Together
Good morning... Most of us have heard that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but the fight became deeply personal for me when I received a text from a friend on October 12th at 7:34 am. "Thank you for your message this morning, Courage Is Rekindled," she wrote. "God spoke to me through you in a mighty way! It wasn't even your message for today, but when I opened my emails, that was [...]
What Was Sharp And Piercing
Good morning... Celebrating her 60th birthday season with my lifelong friend, I read a short poem to the small group gathered. ****** Handling by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer After years, what once was enormous, sharp and piercing now is rounded, polished, fits like a marble in the palm of my hand. This is what comes from touching it, brushing up against it, holding it again and again. And again. Once, it cut me. Now, as [...]
God’s Timing Is Perfect
Good morning... After journaling with God about the reflection question posed in yesterday's blog post, Monet This Morning, I emailed my church friend to thank her for the permission to share her photos of the stunning gardens of Monet growing just outside of Paris. As we exchanged emails, I was touched by the generosity of the Spirit blowing through our exchange. "Isn't this just another tiny example of God's mysterious ways expanding in [...]
Monet This Morning
Good morning... "Hi Sue," a longtime church friend wrote several days ago. "Thought you might enjoy these pictures. I took them at Monet’s garden outside of Paris. It was such a hopeful place with all the dreariness in the world. Hope you are well and peaceful." "Oh, how gorgeous," I replied. "Such exquisite beauty. Life-giving. Breath-taking. Fingerprints of our Creator expanding over every inch. Thank you for sharing. Might I post [...]
The Song Marching Through My Mind
Good morning... This week a song is gently marching through my mind. God personalizes the chorus. "I will send out an army to find you in the middle of the darkest night. Sue, it's true, I will rescue you." Lauren Daigle's voice repeats over and over again. As I rest. As I wake. As I drive. As I cook. As I clean. "Sue, it's true, I will rescue you." Then a blossoming occurs. [...]
Cancer Is Life-Consuming
Good morning... I hold my heart wide open in prayer as I ponder with God the needs of many. I am held together through veins of prayer with loved ones throughout the world, a limitless gift with eternal benefits. "Sue, your prayers are invaluable to me," texted my friend's mom who is turning 90 this week. "I am so grateful for the loving care and appreciate having you in my life. This cancer [...]
Steve Was Pulled Into A Conflict
Good morning... Heading into yesterday, I read the monthly devotional message written by my husband Steve, the Upper School chaplain at The Lovett School. Through Steve's keen wisdom God spoke in surround sound as I prepared my heart for a two day training with our talented Northside Church staff. ****** Chaplain's Devotional by Rev. Steve Allen, October 17, 2022 When I was in seminary I served as an intern in a church where [...]
I Wanted To Live To Be 101
Good morning... I got news this weekend of a cancer diagnosis in the families of two friends - one, a brave 36 year old daughter, and the other, a nearly 90 year old mother who is so dearly loved. Pondering the precarious balance between life and death, I am drawn to a poem I met a while back. In this quiet moment, I revisit the words with my friends and their loved ones [...]
The Cross On Her Wrist
Good morning... "Every time I see this cross on my wrist, I am reminded we are not perfect people," she wrote after yesterday's post. "Even with our imperfect selves we strive to get it right, to shine through darkness, and to live behind the smiles with a generous spirit. My cross is not perfect and it reminds me to let go and strip myself of trying to be perfect for God. That's not [...]
Conflict At The Altar
Good morning... "We cannot come to the altar in conflict," said yesterday's Betty Skinner quote. "But, God, hadn't we just written the opposite?" I thought to myself. Our post, Quiet The Voice Of Despair, had just revealed our honest truth: The voice of despair and the voice of "I love you" play tug-o-war in us sometimes. This common inner battle feels like conflict to me. So, God, does this mean I am not [...]