Finding Life Again Through God's Healing

As many of you know, my husband Larry passed away almost six years ago. In those early days, time seemed to stand still. Grief has a way of swallowing everything, and I truly believed my life would never be the same again. But the Lord has a way of taking even the hardest seasons and turning them toward good. After the tears, the loneliness, and the heavy fog of those first months, a small light began to appear — a glimmer of hope at the end of a very long tunnel. In that quiet place of healing, the Lord gently showed me how to draw closer to Him, how to lean on Him, and how to trust Him in ways I never had before. For that, I am eternally grateful. He lifted me out of a deep pit and brought me into a place where I am more alive, more grounded, and more joyful than I ever imagined I could be again. I miss Larry terribly, but I know he is with Jesus — and I know I will see him again. As I walked through this new season, I began to focus more intentionally on Jesus and the gifts He placed within me: writing, painting, photography. Pouring myself into these creative expressions has been both exhilarating and deeply therapeutic. They have brought a peace and tranquility nothing else could offer. I’ve also turned my attention to caring for my health — spiritually, physically, and mentally. What once upset me no longer holds power. What once stole my joy no longer has a place. I’ve built a routine I try to keep, and along the way I’ve lost 30 pounds. I’m working hard to keep my blood pressure and cholesterol in check by eating healthier, cutting out processed foods, and walking daily — either inside my home or at the park when the weather allows. My faith and my art have been two of the greatest tools God has used to help me heal from losing the man I loved so deeply. If you are walking through loss and feel lost yourself, I want to encourage you: God loves you more than you can imagine. If you turn to Him, He will walk with you through the power of the Holy Spirit and give you purpose in this new season. He will guide you, strengthen you, and reveal abilities you never knew you had. He will be with you every step of the way. God bless you.

The Ache of the Knowing during Holy Week

There is a specific kind of grief that lives in the anticipation of pain. We often think of the Cross as a moment of time - a few hours of physical agony on a Friday afternoon. But for Jesus, the Cross was a shadow that grew longer with every step He took toward Jerusalem. He lived His life in the "Knowing". He knew the texture of the thorns before they touched His brow. He felt the weight of the timber before it rested on His shoulders. While the disciples were arguing about who was the greatest, or worrying about where they would sleep, Jesus was looking at the horizon, watching the sun set on the last of His "normal" days. In Gethsemane, we see the poetry of His humanity. The Bible says He was "overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death." It was the burden of carrying every secret shame, every broken heart, and every cold silence of humanity, all while knowing that Sunday was still a dark tunnel away. He didn't just endure the pain; He chose the pain, minute by minute. Every breath He took in that garden was a "Yes" to a "No" He could have uttered at any moment If you are in a season of waiting right now - if you are sitting in your own "Saturday" where the light feels far away and the burden feels too heavy to carry - remember that our Savior has been there. He didn't skip to the resurrection. He sat in the tension. He felt the ache. He walked through the shadows so that when we find ourselves in the dark, we can look beside us and realize we aren't walking alone. Sunday is coming. The light is inevitable. But today, let us sit in the quiet wonder of a Love that saw the cost, felt the sting, and stayed anyway. Have a beautiful resurrection Sunday! Amen!