A while ago, I had trouble with one of my coworkers. She would brag about herself in front of management but didn’t work as hard as the rest of the team. She talked about herself all the time but never showed any interest in others, and she was often rude to me, even pretending to… Read More Julianne’s Story: The Struggle to Love an “Unlovable” Person
After my dad’s funeral service, we brought home many of the flowers that had been set up around the church, and my mom set a vase of white roses on the dresser in her bedroom. They bloomed brilliantly in the morning sunlight, and my mom, comforted by their beauty, prayed they would last the whole… Read More Anna’s Story: God’s Grace in My Grief
“Who made you boss of everyone!?” she asked me on the first-grade playground at recess. My type-A approach to life started almost 45 years ago, and from there I grew into a strong, resilient, persevering woman who gets stuff done—until my 20s, when debilitating, persistent migraines, gut issues, and an absurdly long list of food… Read More Michelle’s Story: Serving God through Persistent Pain
From the beginning of the pandemic, I have taken this virus seriously. I went to a wedding the weekend that Illinois schools closed and then quarantined for two weeks in the event that I might have caught the virus. I didn’t want to inadvertently get anyone sick, especially my family. Even as things opened up, my husband and… Read More Clarissa’s Story: Pride and the Pursuit of Protection
The 2020 holiday season is here and I’m wondering, “Should we get together with family? What about friends? Will I get to be with my grandchildren?” We had plans for out-of-town guests to come for Thanksgiving, but that changed at the last minute because of a family member being exposed to COVID-19. Even though I know it… Read More Sandy’s Story: Battling Bitterness While Missing Family