A Single Raindrop, A Lost Treasure, and the End of Writer’s Drought

This morning I can breathe again. Inhaling deeply, I smell rain in the air, though the forecast calls for clear skies.

Stepping into the parched writing world of my home office, I blow on the layer of dust covering my desk. Particles dance into my nose.

I’m a foreigner in a once-familiar place. As I open my laptop, I sense a changing wind. Outside the open window, a new cloud hovers. Could it carry a drop of rain, ending my writer’s drought?

The foundation on which I stand is cracked and my soul is somewhat withered. Even so, my feet are steady and my home – mine again.

Readers who’ve followed my blog may recall my post titled Today’s a New Day … Are Yesterday’s Bridges Still Burning? 

I spoke of our 23-year-old daughter, who I called Treasure. After a period of unrest in her life, Ed and I took her into our home to assist in aligning her life. I wish I could say that we were helping to realign her life, but that would mean her life had once been aligned. That hadn’t been the case since she was barely a teen so it doesn’t apply.

Unexpectedly, my life went into a tailspin when Treasure joined our household. I’ll spare the details other than to confess that despite sharing an undeniable measure of love for each other, Treasure, Ed, and I simply could not live together in a mutually compatible way.

Aislynn’s Bliss (Where’s Yours?)

Feet dangle freely

Aislynn Elise

Colors ignite

Santa Cruz Boardwalk

Is everything right

Smell cotton candy

Look at the sea

They soak through her lens

She sighs, blissfully

Whether it’s through a camera’s lens, the tip of a pen, or inhaling the Spirit of Christ … find your bliss and cling to it when your world gets heavy!

Aislynn Elise

This post is dedicated to my first daughter, Aislynn Elise. Thank you for sharing your bliss through your camera lens. Yours is a beautiful world, my love!

Do You Love Them Enough to Let Them Hate You?

“I hate you!” my fifteen-year old son yelled at my husband.

“I know you do, but I’m okay with that,” Ed replied, calmly.

“I mean it!” JJ added, “I really hate you!”

 “Well, I love you,” my husband answered.

“R” is for RESENTMENT Steals Contentment

Have you ever resented God for answering a prayer?

The pretty young mother

Fell straight to her knees

She’d just lost her child

Her tears filled the seas

 

She said to the Lord

“You’ve stolen my son!”

She was filled with resentment

“He was not even one!”

 

“O” is for OVERPOWERED by the “Underpowered” (Why I Believe in Spiritual Warfare)

Recently, I’ve witnessed somebody I love – somebody whose walk with Christ is solid – becoming overpowered by an invisible “underpower.”

If you don’t believe in the negative forces that share this world with us, I understand.

In fact, I wouldn’t blame you for running for the door right now. Nor, would I be surprised if I heard you whispering, “Crazy blog lady,” as you hustled away.

That’s okay.

No hard feelings.

I’ve been in your shoes. I understand what you may be thinking, as you realize what this crazy lady (yours truly) is referring to.

But, I’m willing to live with a few people thinking I’m nuts when I say …

I believe that perfectly intelligent people can be effected by evil forces, invisible to the naked eye.

“E” is for ENCOUNTERING GOD – The Suffering Parent

“Forgive me!” I cried out to God, “I can’t do it!”

Like any mom, I worry about my kids, and having six of them, there’s plenty of things to worry about. I pray about them all, but a couple of my kids seem to struggle longer and harder than others and their afflictions can emotionally drain me.

God knows we do this – weigh ourselves down with worry for others. That’s why He invites us to cast our cares onto His shoulders … but that’s not always easy to do.

On this particular day, I was heavy with anguish over my son, who I’ll call JR.

“B” is for The BULIMIA BULLY

Eating disorders are some of the most confusing conditions I’ve ever been exposed to and, according to The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), I’m not alone.

Did you know that 20 million women and 10 million men in the United States suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder at some time in their life? And those are just the cases which are reported!

One of my four daughters, who I’ll call “J”, was one of those statistics.

“J” struggled with a condition called Bulimia Nervosa. She would binge eat, literally consuming as much food in an hour as many people would eat in two days or more. When she reached the half-way point on her plate, she would excuse herself to use the restroom, vomit what she’d just eaten, and return to finish her meal.

Once her plate was cleared, she’d usually vomit again. Then, the cycle would immediately repeat. As she washed the dishes from her recently consumed meal, she would begin preparing another full dinner.

“A” is for ADDICTION – The Mommy Kidnapper

Little Man was only three years old when his mommy was kidnapped by Addiction. This was the second time she’d been taken by the persistent thief.

Little Man wasn’t born yet when Addiction crept in the first time. In fact, Little Man’s arrival seemed to keep the cruel kidnapper at bay. Mommy found a renewed strength and was able to escape Addiction’s grip … for a little while.

But Addiction was stubborn and didn’t want to give up possession of Little Man’s beautiful mommy. So he attacked again. This time, he snuck up from behind. Nobody saw him coming.