Everyone needs Jesus daily! As we enter the new year of 2025, it is the perfect time to invest in reading through the bible in a year. The Christian Standard Bible offers the Jesus Daily Bible, and with this not being date-specific, it will still allow you to go through the bible in 52 weeks.
This bible will show you the role of Jesus throughout the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelations. Every bit of God’s word will point to Jesus and keep Christ in the center.
My daughter recently mentioned the desire to read the bible from cover to cover. This bible is perfect, and I introduced her to it this morning.
Be sure to order yours here today and kick off the new year with the Jesus Daily Bible!
Many thanks to Lifeway Christian Resources for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.
With so many things going on in the world, we may question our purpose in life. We may also ask why things are happening and whether we are living in the end times. In all of our humanness, we may also wonder if there is life after death.
I had a unique opportunity recently to view a screening on this subject. Angel Studios is bringing After Death to theaters beginning October 27, 2023 to help answer some of these questions. Granted, you will have many more questions after watching the movie, as I sure have tons swirling around in my head now!
With details from survivors who recall their encounter with Christ in their near-death experiences, as well as doctors and scientists weighing in on this subject, it might just open your eyes. Based on true accounts, authors and survivors give us a look into what happens when we die.
I read 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper previously because of my curiosity. In this film, a few more names I hadn’t heard of before weighed in on the subject. Dr. Mary Neal, the author of To Heaven and Back, John Burke, the author of Imagine Heaven, Dr. Jeffrey Long, the author of Evidence of the Afterlife, and Dr. Raymond Moody, the author of Life After Life, are interviewed in this film. As you can imagine, I was quite intrigued as I watched and listened to their stories.
The message of light (Christ), love (what we are to give to others), and hope (for a brighter future by applying all they learned on their journey once returned to their earthly bodies) rang through each account as the survivors told their stories. Some almost instantly felt as if they were swept away to Heaven to meet Jesus, while there were a few who felt as if they were being ushered off into Hell. It was when they cried out to God that they felt Jesus’ presence there to help them out of their darkest depths of despair. For reasons unbeknownst to them, they were saved and then returned to their lives on Earth as their time on Earth was not through. They were allowed to bring back this message for everyone, and it is my hope that those reading this will not scoff but use this opportunity to get their hearts and lives right with God today!
There are a few survivors in the film who turned their lives around after their near-death experiences. For whatever reason, they were allowed a second chance. Many are not given this opportunity, so while we have the time to get our hearts right with God, we need to make it a priority right now for none are promised another day.
I’m not here to argue with anyone about their beliefs. I’m only asking you to be open-minded as you watch the film. At the very least, allow it to help YOU as it has others so that in the end, your heart will be right with Jesus when you are called Home.
John Burke was very skeptical at first, yet after years of researching and speaking with people about their near-death experiences, he went on to become a pastor. Hear what he has to say in the film when it comes to theaters October 27, 2023.
Many thanks to Angel Studios for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.
Last night I received an unexpected surprise message from someone I probably have not spoken to in more than ten years or longer. Life is strange in that things happen and you drift apart from those you were once so close to, and unfortunately, this happened with us. However, she reached out letting me know she was thinking of me, and of course, I have thought of her many, many times through the years, too. My immediate response was to let her know that no matter what, I love her. Why? Because life is too short and you never know if you will get the opportunity to tell people this very important message. You never know if you will be able to share this piece of your heart again, so I took the opportunity that was presented to me.
We picked back up like ten-plus years hadn’t gone by at all since we last spoke. It was refreshing, although our “catching up” on the things we had missed in each other’s lives had their highs and lows. I was thankful for that moment in time when she reached out.
As we were sharing our condensed life updates with each other, feelings came out about another situation I hadn’t dealt with. There was another conversation that needed to be held but will forever remain an unfinished conversation.
In 2021 another friend and I reconnected after a long stretch without talking. She was diagnosed with leukemia. Hearing this news devastated me, and I reached out to her. She was cold and distant at first, then started calling all the time like in years past. We talked for hours, and I felt comfortable again with her so much so that I offered her a weekend getaway as a gift. She spoke of regrets and things she always wanted to do but never had. I went to planning, and it was my mission to give her a weekend where all of her dreams would come true.
We met halfway in Kentucky and the weekend was off to a great start! She always wanted to ride a horse, so I scheduled a horseback riding adventure for us. She spoke of her desire to kayak and see waterfalls, too, so I made sure we did both on our weekend. We also were able to visit and explore a natural bridge!
Things were going well on our weekend until she brought up an ex-boyfriend of mine in front of my husband. No one likes to think of their spouse with someone else, so as you can imagine, this struck a nerve! She kept on with her inquiries about my ex until finally my husband could not take it any longer and asked her to change the subject. She wouldn’t. He asked her again to change the subject as she dug further into the demise of my relationship with my ex. I asked her to please change the subject also, but she would not have it! Instead, she kept on about it until my husband walked off to avoid saying something harsh that would have hurt her feelings.
This changed the entire weekend.
My husband and I bit our tongues so as not to offend her or hurt her feelings, especially with what she was going through. However, that did NOT give her the right to keep on stirring things up like she was doing. It was as if her goal was to put a huge wedge between my husband and me that weekend. Thankfully, that did not happen. Instead of causing division, what actually happened is my husband and I were united so much that her attempts to cause waves did not rock our boat. She did not create the storm in our marriage she was hoping for. Yet, then she grew bitter because I stood up for my husband. I became the bad guy in the story she told others. I was okay with that because my marriage was strong and unharmed. That is what mattered most to me!
She started a bunch of drama that weekend, but even still I didn’t want any ill feelings between us, especially with her diagnosis. I told her I still loved her and tried so hard to make things right even though she painted me as the bad guy in her story. Then we stopped talking because she pulled away. Upon our return back to our states and our own lives, she pulled away and would not speak to me. I paid for her and her husband’s entire weekend and all of the activities we did during that trip to make her wishes come true, and this was the result of my kindness and generosity.
My heart was sad, but I let her go again. I knew my hands and heart were clean in this situation, and she chose this path just as she had chosen to behave the way she did in dishonoring and disrespecting my husband. These were her choices when things could have been so different!
I have thought of her in the year and a half since this happened, but I did not have any ill feelings surrounding these events at that point. I wished her well and honestly hoped she had improved and beat the odds, although I knew the stem cell transplant she was once hoping for wouldn’t come. Her doctors asked her to stop smoking to remain on the transplant list, but she refused. She made a choice there as well.
And then a message came in from a mutual friend two weeks ago that she passed away.
I remember standing in the middle of my bathroom preparing to greet the day. Nothing prepared me for that message, and my heart sank and a numb feeling came over me. An unfinished conversation remains, and there will be no closure here.
It’s all just so sad because, in her last year and a half of life, this is what she chose! When she could have chosen love in her last year and a half, she chose bitterness! It is incredibly heartbreaking.
As I told my friend last night, I’m still just so – I don’t even know how to describe the feeling – more than sadness that this is what happened. My friend spoke earlier in our conversation of a situation where she felt she had an unfinished conversation, so I used her words as they seem to fit exactly what I was feeling. When you try, and this happens it just blindsides you and certainly knocked the wind right out of my sails.
I’m not choosing to focus on the negativity, although this long and drawn-out post makes it seem otherwise. I said all of that to say THAT is why we should embrace every single moment God allows us to have with such joy and happiness and why we should be so thankful to Him for another day with our families. Life is so precious. It saddens me that although I tried to make things better when she was the offender – she chose this. And my hands were tied. I could only accept it. But my heart is so sad that she passed without having the love and support she could have had – not just from me but from others! She told me her own daughter wouldn’t speak to her before we stopped talking due to hurtful things from the past. I wonder if they ever made amends before it was too late.
Life is too short for all of this!
That is why when my friend reached out last night, I seized the moment and made sure to tell her that I love her.
I pray I will live to be a 95 to 100-year-old woman sitting on my front porch rocking my great-great grandbabies. Yet, I realize no one is promised the gift of another day. I want to live and love. I want to explore and go on adventures, and I want to share precious moments with people that I love completely and who love me just as fiercely! I want to ooze love, joy, and happiness and spread kindness while being compassionate and oh-so-caring to those around me. I don’t want to leave unfinished conversations, and I certainly don’t want anyone to ever wonder how I feel about them. I want them to KNOW … love is such a magnificent thing, and I want to wrap everyone I encounter in that love.
Join me … we don’t know how much or how little time we all have left on this earth. Let’s make it count! Let’s make God proud of us for sharing agape love!
My youngest daughter’s graduation is this Thursday. She is getting ready to step out into this cruel world, and she needs our prayers. All those graduating do …
They hear it from the older generation, “These are some of the best days of your life.” They nod and smile but have not grasped the truth of our words. In years to come, they will. Right now they are carefree for the most part. They don’t have responsibilities or the weight of the world like most adults.
Graduation day brings with it so many different emotions.
They did it!!
Moms, Dads, Grandparents, & Siblings – be proud!! Just as I know you are!
They studied hard, they made the grades, and now they are walking across the stage in their caps and gowns – high school graduates!
Little visions of them with their kindergarten caps and gowns fill our heads. We see them as such … not as the grown 18-year-olds they are now!
As they embark on their dreams, we pray for them and for their future. We pray for them with the heartache they will face as everyone does, as well as the great love and happiness they will have as they walk into adulthood and throughout the rest of their lives.
We ask for God’s hand of protection over them now and in the days to come. Father, bless them in ALL that they do! Shelter them and go alongside them. Comfort them in times of trouble, and wrap Your loving arms around them when they need it the most.
When they are unsure of themselves and what the future holds, remind them of Jeremiah 29:11. You have great plans for their lives, and we trust in YOU, Lord, to show them the way.
We pray they will always seek to honor and bring glory to YOUR name.
Be with them now and always, Lord. May they be filled with love from You and know their families love them very much.
Remind them that no matter what happens, they can always count on their families and no matter what, they will have our love …
May is Mental Health Month. It’s when we bring awareness to a topic many shy away from.
I’m here to tell you that dealing with someone who has a mental illness is not for the faint of heart. It takes a LOT of prayers, and it takes a very strong person to NOT let the mental illness of another affect YOU!
I’ve dealt with it for way too long with people in my life. From trying to “save” people in my childhood right on up to my adult life. It will wreak havoc on your life if you are near someone with a mental illness.
They blame you. No matter how much you try to help them. They turn it around to where you are the problem. If you help them seek help, they blame you for causing them to need any help to begin with. Medicine – they don’t want to take it because they don’t think they need it, when in reality THEY DO! It helps them function and it helps those around them be able to BE around them!
They will not let YOU have any feelings you express. NONE. Everything will be turned around to be about them. Everything is about them.
YOU don’t matter. Only them. AND THEY SHOW YOU THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN! In the things they say and do … it’s glaring you in the face, and yet you don’t want to accept the little they care for you or the little your feelings or YOU matter to them.
I have never been one to want to give up on anyone with a mental illness. I have stayed right by their side and taken the stomach punches and the kicks in the teeth they give.
This holiday season we were purposeful in our planning. We contemplated what to give our parents, then decided the gift of time together was more valuable than anything else in this world. With that in mind, we planned an overnight trip with them but packed as much as we all could stand during those 48 hours! We ended up having such a great time together that we’re looking forward to our next trip!
We started out Saturday morning around 9 a.m. and ventured into North Carolina to the Billy Graham Library. My parents had seen the library on television but had never been in person. My dad’s face lit up when he saw the cross on the side of the library as we entered the parking lot.
It takes about two hours to tour the library, and you will not want to rush as you go through the informative exhibits. Beginning with Bessie, the cow, you will learn tidbits of information you wouldn’t have known if you hadn’t taken the time to stop and allow yourself to enjoy the total experience.
My husband and I toured once before, but we learned a little more the second time we visited. My parents seemed to enjoy the new information they learned about Evangelist Billy Graham. My dad was moved to tears as we went through the library.
At the end of the tour, there is an invitation and opportunity to make a decision to follow Christ. If you need to recommit your life, you can do that as well. They have people to assist you with any questions at the end of the tour, and they will pray with you as you commit or recommit your life to Christ. That is priceless! As a matter of fact, there is no charge to tour the library, as the attendant told us Billy Graham did not want money to stand in the way of anyone coming to learn about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Touring the house, gardens, and library are absolutely free, and you are given the gift of eternal life through Jesus if you only believe, confess with your mouth, and accept Christ into your heart.
After touring the library, we moved to the childhood home of Billy Graham. The home was moved to where it presently sits out in front of the library. Around the side of the silo is the garden path which takes you to where Billy and Ruth Graham are buried on the property. We did not take my parents to the Graham’s final resting place due to the bitter cold that day, however. By the time we finished touring the library, we had enough time to drive an hour and a half further to check into our hotel and freshen up for the evening’s adventure to Korner’s Folly.
Carolers dressed in period clothing welcomed us on the porch of this unique home. I have to admit this was a really nice touch, and I was so looking forward to this part in particular. I wanted us to fully be emerged in the spirit of the holiday on our Christmas adventure, and we were not disappointed.
Once we stepped inside, we knew this house was unlike anything we have ever toured before. The house consisted of 22 rooms filled with the original furnishings and artwork complete with cast-plaster details, elaborate tile, which was hand laid, and carved woodwork. Built in 1880, Korner’s Folly was the home of mastermind Jule Gilmer Korner, an artist and designer.
I felt like a child as I went from room to room admiring all of the spectacular Christmas decorations. The sparkling and shining decorations were different in every room, and you could vote on the theme you liked best at the end of the night. It was truly hard to pick just “one” favorite, as they all stood out in their own Winter Wonderland way. From Snowmen to Nut Crackers and everything in between, there was something waiting to bring a smile to your face in every room you stepped into. As if the decorations weren’t enough, each room was unique in size and shape. For instance, when my dad entered the children’s playrooms upstairs, he had to duck way down to avoid hitting his head. Meanwhile, my mother and I, (5′ tall and 4′ 11″ tall), walked comfortably into the playrooms and began admiring all the toys from years gone by. This made us all laugh, and then it was on to the next room to find plenty more that made our eyes widen with excitement. Seeing my dad turning sideways squeezing through a narrow hallway and my husband going down an even more narrow flight of stairs where he had to draw his arms close to his side made us laugh almost hysterically. Oh, the wonder that was Korner’s Folly!!
As you can imagine, we worked up quite an appetite with all the touring that day, so we stopped for supper before heading back to our hotel to retire for the evening.
We rose early the next morning and had a hot made-to-order breakfast before setting off to explore the Reynolda House. Sticking with the sights and sounds of the holiday season, we were enticed by the “Comfort and Joy” theme they had going on that day. But first … Mast General Store was calling our name. There, we found items from our childhood that brought a smile, such as moon pies and RC Colas, candy cigarettes, and little bottles made of wax filled with flavored liquid. We took our time in that store thoroughly examining little blasts from the past to more modern merchandise. There was something in that store for everyone!
After cracking open the candy we purchased at the store, we headed to the Reynolda House. The cold Winter wind felt as if it were slicing right through our jackets as we exited our vehicle and walked toward the entrance where we waited outside for the doors to open. We welcomed the warmth of the sun as we waited. Much to our surprise, quite a large crowd grew before they opened the doors at 1:30 p.m. that Sunday. Once the doors were opened, it didn’t take us long to get through the line for tickets and on to the self-guided tour of the home. We were there the Sunday before Christmas when they had a live performance of Reynolda’s original 1917 Aeolian Organ! What a treat to have beautiful holiday songs from the first half of the 20th century playing from this grand instrument as we toured the museum.
This house, now a museum, made us think of The Biltmore Estates, but of course on a much smaller level. They had no need to leave the estate for entertainment as they had room for roller skating in the basement. What’s more, they had a bowling alley, a shooting range, a racketball court, a wine cellar, a bar, and an indoor swimming pool. What more could you possibly need?
While my husband and I took the stairs to the top floor, my parents used the elevator. Yes … they had an elevator in the house! Something that also surprised us was the history of the family that occupied the home, none other than R.J. and Katharine Reynolds and their four children. Reynolda was the vision of Katharine, and so she hired Architect Charles Barton Keen to design her dream house, and construction began in 1912. The formal gardens were originally laid out as part of the general site plan by Horatio R. Buckenham and Louis Miller and later replaced with Thomas Sears. Due to the frigid cold, we were not able to fully enjoy the grounds and outdoor space. However, we would like to return in Spring to see it in all of its glory when the gardens come to life yet again.
After touring the house, we stopped for a nice late lunch and then started the over three-hour drive back home. The long drive allowed for deep, meaningful conversation. Connecting and making memories was honestly what this trip was all about anyway. Time with family is the absolute most important thing, and it makes it even more special during the holiday season. We look forward to more opportunities to make memories in the new year!
At the end of October, we held our vow renewal ceremony in our backyard in front of this gazebo that once belonged to my husband’s parents. When his mom passed away five years ago, his father renovated their deck, eliminating the gazebo that had been in place for over 30 years. He asked if we had any use for it, and we jumped at the chance to have a piece of his mother’s memory in our backyard! We went to work on lining up transportation, which required a crane to lift it from where it sat in my father-in-law’s yard in another town, setting it on the truck, driving with caution through our town and ultimately to our house, then using the same crane to take it off the truck and place it beside our pool. As you can imagine, it was quite the undertaking, but we had several knowledgable men in charge who made it happen! Honestly, from the above picture, the gazebo looks like it was made just for that very spot!
Back to the vow renewal …
My husband and I just celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary, and he asked me to marry him all over again. Imagine my surprise when our family was gathered around the Christmas tree last year when he presented me with a very special gift. My daughters and son-in-law knew exactly what was waiting behind the wrapping paper, even if I didn’t have a clue at that moment when I was holding it in my hands. With all eyes on me, I started slowly unwrapping the present to find a framed picture. When I turned it around, there was our picture from when we visited Hawaii in October of 2021 with sweet words requesting I marry him all over again. He joked that I may run and then joked that there was no way I was going to do THAT again. But I stood there with tears in my eyes holding the framed picture with the beautiful message regarding renewing our vows in front of family and friends.
If married couples are honest, there are trying times in every marriage, and ours has been no different. I won’t put on this fake image that our entire time together has been sunshine and roses, but I will be realistic in that we have struggled through sorrow and heartbreaking times. The loss of my sister early on when we were just beginning to date is one tragic event that immediately comes to mind, followed by my ruptured ectopic pregnancy which devastated us. We prayed for a baby, and not long after finding out we were pregnant, we went from being filled with excitement to being rushed to the emergency room and prepped for surgery. Although crushed beyond belief and so brokenhearted after losing the baby and one of my tubes, I didn’t know if I would ever be able to have another baby after this great loss which left me with only a fifty percent chance. Even still, I continued to pray through painful procedures, and God not only met me right where I was in a sobbing heap on the floor crying out in my brokenness, but He blessed me the very next year with a beautiful baby girl! Our hearts are forever grateful for her and her big sister!
So yes, we have endured trying and down right gut wrenching times. We experienced the passing of my grandfather three months after losing my sister, then my grandmother a few years after that, and we experienced losing his mother to colon and rectal cancer several years later.
There are other things in between that caused us great heartache, but we managed to prove that love does conquer all. Thank God for forgiveness, grace, mercy, and love.
This vow renewal was not like a typical wedding, of course, since I was already a bride 20 years ago. Instead of wearing a white gown, I decided for a full length navy blue evening gown with shimmers depending on what light I was in. My handsome groom wore a tux with a matching navy blue bow tie. My sweet mother was my matron of honor, and my two gorgeous daughters were my bridesmaids. My humble father walked me down the aisle again, just as he had done 20 years before. My father-in-law was my husband’s best man and stood beside him as our son-in-law officiated the ceremony. Our son-in-law is a praise and worship pastor, and as you can imagine, it was so moving to have him standing there speaking and conducting the service. My heart was so full at that very moment as I stood before my ever so handsome husband and placed my hands in his.
We did not choose the traditional songs either. We have to be different, so my husband, father-in-law, and son-in-law walked in to “Pledging My Love” by Elvis, while my mother and two daughters walked in to “Destiny” from Jim Brickman’s CD. My father and I walked in to “Love of My Life” also from Jim Brickman’s CD featuring Michael W. Smith as the vocalist. During the ceremony, “It’s Your Love” by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill played after our hands ceremony, and as we went to exit, Shania Twain’s “Still The One” declared what our hearts felt as well.
I know without a doubt the impact this ceremony had not just on my husband and I but others witnessing the exchange as well. My father was wiping his tears after the ceremony also. He has always been a strong man, but when he shows his soft side, it truly means something extra special.
I may share the actual written ceremony in the days to come so other couples may take from our ceremony what they feel will bless their lives and their union on their wedding day or vow renewal.
Kindness doesn’t cost a single thing, and yet it is worth more than its weight in gold to the receiver!
If you’re having a bad day, it always helps when someone extends kindness and grace. Sometimes you will be so overwhelmed and touched by the person’s actions so much so that you are moved to tears.
I would like to share the below kindness assessment and challenge you to join in. Whether it’s friends, family, coworkers, or the cashier at the store, one act of kindness can change their entire day!
Just recently, someone dear to me endured the “wrath” of several individuals who tried to “put her in her place” because she didn’t act or react the way they wanted her to. ~insert the biggest eye roll ever here~
News Flash: We are individuals that have free will, a mind of our own, with morals, and values that are not like theirs (as in, theirs are severely lacking, to say the least). Furthermore, we can choose how to conduct ourselves without being under the control of a narcissist. Shocking, I know.
My recommendation for this precious soul was to read a book that helped me many years ago:
Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend
And so, this precious individual not only bought the book but dove into it ready to equip herself and set more boundaries in place without feeling incredibly guilty about doing so!
As Christians, we are taught to turn the other cheek. Here’s the thing, though. After turning the other cheek so many times, you finally get tired of the neck injury and the bruises on both of your cheeks. Certain people take advantage of us, especially when they know we are Christians. They think they can get away with more because we’re “supposed” to turn the other cheek, or we’re “supposed” to say yes to accommodate them. While I believe there are appropriate times to do both, you do have to dig your heels in and stand firm with individuals known to push you around.
Consider the following and answer honestly if you have seen yourself doing any of these things in the past:
If ANY of the above rings true, this book is for you! No, I am not getting paid to write this and am not benefitting one bit by advertising this book. The only thing I stand to gain from this is equipping others with the knowledge and tools found in this book by these two men! It will truly benefit YOU to read this book if you have any boundary issues in your life.
Will it be easy putting boundaries in place or drawing a line in the sand with some people? No. They will resent you for the boundaries you put into place. This won’t be the norm when dealing with you, and they will resist the boundaries. They will test the boundaries. Stand strong with your armor on and brace for the attack. Believe me, it will come. They will say things to hurt you when you tell them no or refuse to allow them to control you. Hold your head up high. What you are doing by putting boundaries in place is extremely healthy for you and your family!
It seems like Winter wants to linger a little while longer here in the south. While it isn’t as cold as it is in the northern parts of the United States, this Southern Belle is tired of it! We are ready for sun-kissed cheeks, boat rides, feeling our toes in the sand, and it being light outside until 9 p.m.
The sound of bullfrogs in the pond and whippoorwills in the distance excite me! I’ll take that any day instead of the sound of horns blowing in a crowded city.
We want longer days with 80 to 90 degree weather perfect for shorts, sandals, and riding around in our convertible with the top down. Bonfires at night with friends and family laughing and sharing stories, singing Karaoke, ahhhh, let the good times roll.
This week we enjoyed temperatures in the 70s and 80s, but this weekend the 60s returned. We are thankful we aren’t shoveling snow or slipping on ice, but island breezes, tropical drinks on the white sandy shores with the bluest water licking the shores are what we long for!
It’s no secret that I enjoy the outdoor living space at my house. My patio, among my different flower gardens, is my favorite place to be. As I strolled along the bank of our pond this week, I remembered a quote on my calendar.
God created all of the beauty that surrounds us for our enjoyment. The way He paints the sky with each sunrise and sunset, and with each rainbow that appears. The flowers that bloom, and the birds that fly around us chattering with their friends, all of these things were created by Him just for us.
The holiday season is upon us. For many, this is not a happy time for them. Their hearts are hurting from losing loved ones dear to them. We are no different, as we have loved ones in Heaven we miss daily.
Our city just held their annual Angel of Hope event this past Saturday. A monument was erected 12 years ago of an angel with wings outstretched as if to welcome and embrace children taken too soon from this world. My sister’s name is among the names called and pictures displayed during the annual memorial service. It never gets easy as you hold flowers and take the slow, lonely stroll down the brick walkway where the angel sits at the end. Right behind the angel to the left is a plaque we donated to the city for my sister. Every year my parents and I take this heartbreaking walk. As we are standing at my sister’s plaque, my dad will kiss his hand and place it on my sister’s name. After every name has been called, candles are lit for our loved ones. As a song plays, memories flood in right along with the tears.
Be kinder than you usually are, especially during the holiday season. You never know what a person is going through. The person standing right next to you in line at the grocery store might just be fighting back tears as they try to hold it together.
Choose kindness … every time.
And
Pray for all those hurting during the holiday season.
With so many things going on in the world, we may question our purpose in life. We may also ask why things are happening and whether we are living in the end times. In all of our humanness, we may also wonder if there is life after death.
