My JourKNEE Back

  Strength can look different from person to person. Sometimes it takes all of our energy to even be able to get out of bed. Life is not turning out how we expected, either by choices we have made or by another's actions that we cannot control. We feel like staying in bed and hiding from the things happening around us, but we know we have responsibilities, so we force ourselves to get up and get things done. Maybe we stick to ourselves for a little while because we have nothing left to give to anyone else. In other circumstances, it takes all of our energy to stop doing something we've been doing for years. My running friend, "J", has been dealing with an injury. She found herself having to reduce her mileage from at least six a day down to one mile, just a week before an upcoming, previously scheduled surgery that would most likely end her six and a half year running streak. She was hoping to be able to enjoy that week of running before she had to decide what was bes...

Guests may not have understood why my mom sang "Friends" by Michael W. Smith at my wedding reception. The chorus says, "And friends are friends forever, If the Lord's the Lord of them. And a friend will not say never, 'Cause the welcome will not end." It made perfect sense to me and brought me to tears as I listened to the words. I didn't have many friends in middle and high school. It was usually one close friend that seemed to change every two years or so, and they always had another friend that seemed to be their best friend. I spent a lot of time at home with family. It was my safe place where I could mostly be me. I was blessed with two strong Christian female role models. I saw my nanny and my mom, both divorcees, attend church regularly, practice a private devotional time as well and try to live by a Godly standard daily. Yes, I also saw their flaws which I was able to learn from as well. I admired my mom being able to admit when she didn't ma...

My heart is so blessed and full today. This morning, in church, my son decided to get baptized, and my daughter was baptized three years ago on May 1st. As a parent, I have tried to protect the innocence of my children, but I quickly realized that they will be hurt and rejected. They will hear of and learn of the evils of this world. I have gotten to observe firsthand the growth they've experienced as life's hardships hit. At their ages, nineteen and twenty-two, they are much more spiritually mature than I was even into my thirties. I can't remember a time that I didn't believe there was a God. I had my doubts from time to time, though, as to whether the bible was completely true. I have questioned if God is really who the bible says he is; loving and good, but I have always believed there was something, someone greater than all of this. To hear their testimonies written out in their own words brought tears to my eyes. To know that I have been a part of that is humbling...

Last weekend, I met up with "J" and her cousin, whom we will call "K" to run some miles on the river trail. When I meet them at the trail, they usually run for a minimum of ten miles together and meet me somewhere in the last half of their run to pick me up for the four (4.25 to be exact) miles back to the parking lot. I have to decide whether I will run the rest of the way with them and be driven back to my van or run with them a certain distance before turning around and heading back to my van on my own. I used to go the whole way with them before turning around and heading back to my van on my own, but I haven't been going much over four miles at a time lately. So, last weekend, we started out and when we got close to mile two, it was in my head that I needed to make a decision. I felt like I could go on. At mile three the uncertainty started to set in. At that point, I either needed to keep running, and not walk, with them the rest of the way or, if I turned...

On this Resurrection Day, my heart is heavy for several reasons, but I am thankful for many things as well. Despite anything that is going on around me, I am most thankful for the fact that my Savior rose from the grave. There is no other religion that can make the claim that their god died and came back to life. We, as Christians, can and we have proof from eyewitnesses who saw him die and also saw him alive again after being buried for three days. Praise you, God!! I give you Matthew 28:1-20 (CSB) to read today. Happy Easter, everyone! Resurrection Morning " After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb.  There was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it.   His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.  The guards were so shaken by fear of him that they became like...

We live in a time where it is so easy to respond to conflict with a text rather than confronting a person face to face. We can easily comment on a social media post with whatever comes to mind because our opinion is the only one that matters, and it's necessary for the world to hear it. We don’t pause to consider the feelings of others or the impact our comments may have. Perhaps you have been at the receiving end of one of these interactions, perhaps you have been the one to respond with impulsiveness. Today, as I reflect on Palm Sunday, the point that stuck out to me was that Jesus came in peace. In Zechariah 9:9 (CSB) Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was predicted, “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout in triumph, Daughter Jerusalem! Look, your King is coming to you; he is righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” The Jews believed this prophecy to be about a King that would come fight for them and free them from the control of the Ro...

On Tuesday, I will be celebrating thirty years of marriage to my best friend. When we got married, we were young and thought we knew it all, but we didn't have a clue of what was to come. Now that we are older, we are wise enough to admit that we still don't have a clue. I've heard other couples say that as time goes on, they love each other more than ever and I can honestly say that is true. Aside from God who is my refuge, my hope eternal, this man is my safe place on earth. Absolutely there are times when we don't see eye to eye and, of course, we do things to annoy each other. I used to feel the need to point these things out when friends or family would tell me about their relationship struggles, but the fact of the matter is that we have been blessed. We have made the commitment, we have put in the hard work, and we are still learning to live unselfishly. I love and respect him more than ever. In this week's blog, I will be sharing our answers to "Couples...