Healing & Redemption

This hit me while journaling one morning: there’s a difference between scars and scar tissue. And spiritually, I think that difference matters.  A scar tells us there was once a wound. Something happened, something hurt, and even after healing, evidence of it remains. But I started thinking about scar tissue as a picture of the

I’ve chosen a word for the year for the last few years. In 2023, it was Believe. In 2024, Intentional. In 2025, Thrive. And for 2026, my word is Renewed.  But to explain why, I have to go back a little.  I started therapy in 2021, but it wasn’t until 2023 that something really shifted.

“Girl, I am so out of shape. I have never been this heavy since I was pregnant with Jake. I feel so fat.” “Oh my goodness. You are not fat. You have never been fat. You don’t even know what fat feels like.” “Just because you don’t think I’m fat, doesn’t mean I’m not.” Sigh

When you grow up thinking a certain way how do you unlearn that? I am now discovering several things my mother taught me at a young age are not right. And when there are layers and layers of childhood trauma, you can only deal with them one trauma at a time, unless, that is, something

For weeks, I have been avoiding depression. My therapist says it’s more fear than it is avoidance, but for years fear has kept me on the road paved with joy. It may sound strange but go with me here. No one likes a “Debbie Downer”; that person that is ho-humming through life. I don’t think

Do you know that friend that always has a major crisis going on in his or her life? Every time you talk, their ongoing struggles consume the conversation? And all you want to say is “Get over yourself. You have made it through worse situations and frankly, there are people with even more difficult struggles”.

“Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you.” When I was in 8th grade, a guy told me I couldn’t be his Valentine because his friends thought I was ugly. Those words have stayed with me since they were spoken. I may not identify with them as much as I

As I looked at the pile of clothes on the chest of drawers and the bag of new clothes I just got for my birthday in my room; neither which could fit into my closet, I realized I needed to clean out my closet. Confession time: I love clothes. I love buying clothes, but hate

When you have been broken, knocked down, and had battle after battle, you tend to not think much of yourself. You tend to see the promises of God for everyone else, but not for you. Yes, you are forgiven and somewhat restored, but the complete promises of God are simply unattainable. This is something I

“Every time I got pregnant I miscarried. My gynecologist said it was because of the abortion. Dynah was a miracle. But…there’s more to it than the physical part. It’s been twenty-nine years, and I’m still not over it.” That is an excerpt from one my favorite books, The Atonement Child by Francine Rivers. According to