Don't Protect Me

 

Life has been hectic for us lately, even a bit chaotic. Our family has been going through some trials. Some of them are big and lots of people know about them. Some are normal things that everyone faces. Some are things only those involved know about. Some days it is overwhelming.

But life goes on, for us, for you, too.

We all have struggles in life. I know others besides me are going through things. Please don’t decide to not share with me. Please don’t try to protect me. Please don’t decide for me what I can handle. Do not choose to not talk to me or share with me what’s going on in your life because it would be too much for me. Even if I cannot bring you a meal today, I can pray for you. I care about my friends, family, and others. Let me care, let me help if I can.

When you choose not to share with me, then I feel I cannot share with you either. If we hold ourselves apart in order to not burden each other, we lose our vulnerability. We lose that sense of true friendship where we can talk about life freely.

When we don’t share, we also lose our chance to talk about how God is there in the midst of trials. We miss hearing about His faithfulness, how He is helping us through it, strengthening us. No matter how much I am hurting, I have stories of God’s goodness to tell. Let me tell you. Tell me yours so I can be encouraged.

If you don’t share with me about your life, good or bad, I feel alone. I feel like maybe I can’t handle things. I feel like I have to just handle it alone because others are handling their lives. But God made us for community. I need you in my life. We are stronger together.

When you do share with me, it distracts me from my own troubles. It gives me something else to think about. It changes my prayer focus outward to someone else. It keeps me from getting stuck in my own worries. It helps me to not center just on what I am feeling. It is good for me to refocus on other things.

I need you to be my friend, in the hard times and the good times. I want to share in your joy. I want to share your burdens. I want to encourage you. I want you to encourage me. We may not solve each other’s problems, but we can listen to each other. We can be there for each other. We can pray for each other. We can help each other. This can happen, but only if we choose to be vulnerable, to be real with each other. Don’t protect me; join me in life.

Returning to Church

 

Psalm 122:1 says “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”

I went back to church last Sunday for the first time in a year. I was able to take communion and worship with my church family. I got to worship along side of my newly married (6 months) daughter and her husband for the first time. My granddaughter sat in our pew.

I cried through the first songs as I was overcome with emotion. I had missed this. I had missed it so much.

Sunday is the first day of the week. Going to church was how I ordered my week. I went to church and filled my heart, mind, and soul with worship, fellowship, seeing needs, praying, reaching out to others. A whole year without that emptied me. I still read my Bible. I watched church virtually. I prayed. I had people in my home. I wasn’t totally alone, but something was missing.

Hebrews 10: 24- 25 says “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Scripture encourages us to meet together. It is the time we can spur one another on towards love and good deeds. It is where we encourage one another. When I went into church, someone said my name. Another person asked if they could give me a hug. Someone welcomed me and was glad to see me. A small child smiled and wiggled her fingers in a hello. My pew was full even though my husband and I came alone. It was full of young people I love. My pew was full, but my heart overflowed. It was like coming home after a long time away. I felt a part of something bigger than what I had at home. I belonged somewhere.

We need each other. We need each other especially when we are going through uncertain times. The body of Christ is called to reach out to others, to be there for each other. Sometimes we need to take risks. Often we need to go against the culture. We need to be steadfast and stand firm. We need to know who we are and whose we are. We do not need to live in fear. We need to be welcoming to all. We need to let people come as they are. We need to love those who don’t follow all the rules. Jesus did.

Review of Facing the Dawn

Facing the Dawn

Facing the Dawn will open your eyes and heart to what people experience during great loss. It allows you to feel deep grief that cannot usually be understood. You participate with the characters in their suffering. But you also get to experience true friendship and healing and hope. There is redemption in the love shown and the turning to faith. 

Mara has many struggles throughout the book, just as we all do. As she faces each of them, somewhere you will relate. You will feel her pain. You will also feel the victory in overcoming the worst life can throw at you. 

Immerse yourself in this book and learn about life and grief and hope. Find out what treasures life has even in its difficulties. 

Review of The Joy of Falling by Lindsay Harrel

The Joy of Falling by Lindsay Harrel

The Joy of Falling takes you on a journey with two women who have both lost their husbands in the same accident. The two sisters-in-law share the loss, but their grief and lives are very different. They, along with their husbands’ friend, decide to do an ultra-marathon that their husbands had signed up for in New Zealand. Neither are prepared for the challenges that this trip and marathon will present them with. Not only do the physical challenges of a multi-day 155-mile race hit them, but they must face fears, lost dreams, an unknown future, anger, and grief. Both ladies have hurts and memories, and must reconcile their past and present before they can face whatever the future brings. Their stories stir emotions and give a face to the pain that is lived out in the midst of loss. The New Zealand setting is vivid and realistic. (You may wish to travel there!) The story will touch your heart, and even as you feel their pain, you sense the hope found in faith and move forward with the characters in to a new and fuller life.

Review of The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate

The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate

I had a hard time starting this because it tackles some hard issues. But as I read, I got immersed in the stories and in the characters’ lives. The details in this story deepen the story and make it real. This book is exquisite in taking 2 timelines and making them both go full circle to totally relate to each other. I had never heard about the lost friends published in a newspaper so past slaves could find family and others. This is a slice of history that is sad, but also showed people of incredible fortitude and strength who never gave up. It also shows people who truly care about others, both in the past and in more recent times. I can’t stop thinking about the story and all the characters in it. They have become real to me. It is a must read.

Review of A Mother's Secret by Gabrielle Meyer

A Mother’s Secret by Gabrielle Meyer

A Mother’s Secret has all the right elements for a good story. It has a beautiful setting (in my hometown!), a dilemma to solve, a jilted romance that begs for rekindling, and the sweetest children. I love that Gabe includes children in her stories! I also love how she uses the places she loves in her stories. I can envision all the scenes and can put myself into it. Her main character, Joy, is a mom and foster mom who has the privilege of living in a historical mansion to raise her family until her benefactor dies. Will she have to move? Her former boyfriend is charged with making sure the house is sold. How will they reconcile their past relationship when in a situation that sets them at odds? How do the children figure into all of it? It is a sweet story that makes you realize the value of relationships and home. It is an enjoyable read that gives you all the good feelings!

Review of The Blizzard Bride by Susanne Dietze

The Blizzard Bride by Susanne Dietze
Abby had waited long enough to find the man who was responsible for her father’s death, and by default, her mother’s as well. She would help to find him no matter what. If taking a job as a school teacher in Nebraska was how she could help catch him, she would do it. She enjoyed teaching, and even if it was different than she expected, she could handle it. She was unprepared though for her contact to be a past beau, one that had hurt her mightily. Life in the small town was a challenge. Relationships were strained at times. There were different expectations and rules than what she was used to. Yet the people were what made up the town and the children are what touched her heart. The story involves mystery, counterfeit money, intrigue and romance in a historical setting. Of course, weather plays a part in the story as evidenced by the title. The blizzard is based on a real life historical event. It is an enjoyable read with lots of historical tidbits in there to enjoy. I love the Mayflower Bride series and this is another story on the series that does not disappoint!

Review of Before and After

Before and After by Judy Christie and Lisa Wingate

Before and After does not read like Lisa Wingate’s novels, but it takes her book Before We Were Yours into the realm of reality. It is the true stories of orphans who survived the scandal that came out of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society. The novel captivated its readers and made you wonder if it could be true. This book shows you it could be. It chronicles the stories of many who came through the process and how it affected them and even the next generation. Some of the stories are heart rending and others are stories of triumph and overcoming. Many who shared their stories never thought they would have a voice to tell what it was like. Many told their stories at the urging of their children.  The stories show reunions, some heartbreak, and unexpected connections that help them to heal. It is a story that should not have to have been written, or shared, but because it happened, the sharing inspires hope and restoration. If you read Before We Were Yours, this is a must read to complete the story and to answer more questions.

A Glitter of Gold by Liz Johnson Review

A Glitter of Gold by Liz Johnson

After reading this book, I wanted to start planning a trip to Savannah. The history and the descriptions captivated me. I also loved her characters in this story. Anne moves to Savannah looking to re-start her life after some bad decisions that continued to haunt her in her old home.  She finds her new identity as a tour guide telling pirate stories especially, and dresses like one, too. Yet even in a new place in a new costume, can she outrun her past and how it has defined her? Through a beach find, some historical research, and a cute guy, she finds more than she was looking for.

Sometimes we can get stuck living in the shame of the past, and it immobilizes us. We cannot enjoy the present nor look to the future. Both Anne and Carter must discover what can take them past where they are stuck. Grace becomes a real and attainable gift and changes both their futures. If you like pirates, romance, history, some mystery, and a hope-filled story, this is for you. It has so much to offer; you won’t want to miss it.

The Brides of Big Valley Review

Review of The Brides of Big Valley

The Brides of Big Valley is a set of 3 novellas written by Wanda Brunstetter, her daughter-in-law, and her granddaughter. Each story relates to each other, but has unique characteristics in that each is set in a different distinct Amish community within Big Valley. Each story ends with a bonus recipe, too. They are all romances, each with a different twist. If you like Amish fiction, this won’t disappoint you. You will learn about different groups of Amish and you will see how those differences impact the people. The stories are stories of faith, family, and love. They are truly enjoyable.

“I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.”