What is There to Celebrate on Mother’s Day?
“Motherhood. It brings with it such complicated grief; yet in the midst of that grief, there lies a beauty endowed by the Creator. Because since before the fall, motherhood has been God’s very good plan to show us more of himself. Since the fall, its complexity often clouds out the beauty, leaving us wondering at times what there is to celebrate on Mother’s Day.” What is There to Celebrate on Mother’s Day? by Madelyn Istrate
Holy Interruptions: A Call to Love
“The Lord does not turn away from his people’s sin and suffering with irritation or disgust. Rather, he draws near the most aching, unattractive parts of us. As we revel in the compassionate love of Christ, we will increasingly reflect him—remembering our own reliance on God’s grace, bearing with others in their pain and weakness, and persisting in love when it’s not easy or convenient. As we lean on the Spirit for help to do this, we might ask ourselves, ‘How can I orient and structure my life in ways that are interruptible and available to the needs of others?’” Holy Interruptions: A Call to Love by Mallory Manning
When You Feel Like a Broken Record
“I’m so tired of my own voice saying the same words over and over” I recently lamented to an older mom, “I feel like a broken record. What am I doing wrong?! When will it click?!” “If you feel like a broken record,” she said smirking, “you’re probably actually doing it right.” She went on to highlight the need for consistency in training, as well as the fact that change and learning are a process—often a slow one. Often, I have the same attitude toward myself that I do toward my kids. Why do I keep failing at the same things over and over?! What am I doing wrong?” When You Feel Like a Broken Record by Abbey Wedgeworth
Scars of Love
“We tend to think of aging and pregnancy as the only things that mark our bodies. But we all have other marks we can point to, each with a story to tell. Some are stories of joy. But many of our scars tell stories of physical pain. Many of our scars too are acquired in sacrifice for the people we love. It is these scars of love that mark the ways we’ve given of ourselves for the sake of others. And the story of Easter reminds us that our scars of love are not alone.” - Scars of Love, by Elizabeth Santelmann
What Makes a Woman Great?
“What makes a woman great? Is greatness about reaching some expected status like “engaged” or “married”? Does it mean climbing the corporate ladder, gaining influence, and outdoing those around you? Maybe greatness is about finding your “thing” and becoming an expert at it. Or perhaps it’s about becoming true to ourselves by listening to the voice within. Maybe greatness is learning how to unhitch ourselves from everyone’s expectations in order to find true happiness. Or is it?” - What Makes a Woman Great? by Kristen Wetherell
The Gospel-Heart of Hospitality
“We live in a world that values performative hospitality. Magazine spreads show beautifully-laid tables with place cards and breathtaking floral arrangements. We see influencers with living rooms full of luxurious pillows, vacuumed floors, and art hung by interior designers, making us immediately insecure about our toy-scattered floors and smeared windows. We know the Bible calls us to “offer hospitality without grumbling,” (1 Peter 4:9), but we look around our own house and it’s a far cry from a magazine spread. How do we follow the encouragement to offer hospitality when our reality looks so messy?“ - The Gospel-Heart of Hospitality by Elizabeth Santelmann