Daily Grace

This bloomed today. Mother’s Day 2026. The delicate beauty stopped me in my tracks as I walked out the door. I had to step off the sidewalk into the mulched area and take a minute to breathe in the fragrance…and it was beautiful! It’s been a long time coming, this sweet blooming peony. It starts out as quite a root– not becoming to the eye at all. Sits underground for a good long while. Then it…

I sat on the deck this afternoon after church with a plate of leftovers. I started to eat, and then remembered to thank God, to “say grace” for the meal. Sometimes “saying grace” is perfunctory. Sometimes it’s seen as a duty. Today– it just flowed out of what was flowing in. And out came the poem between bites of spaghetti. Blessings to you and yours this day! “Saying Grace…” For the fresh…

This sweet little bouquet of buds was a gentle reminder of hope for me today. I didn’t expect to see it on the old, neglected apple tree that has appeared lifeless since well before last Winter. As you can see, these tree branches have seen better days. But these branches are from the same tree with the bud bouquet and the photo is taken on the same day that I took the first photo. What is seen…

The table is set, there’s a place for each one The oven is full and the preps are all done There’s a quiet here now, but it soon will be gone As the house fills with family, from near and from far Oh Lord in this moment, I pray that we’d see Your grace, your redemption on this ThanksGiving For who do we thank for the gifts big and small? Oh God you have Given, you’ve given it ALL! Help us…

Sometimes “done” means “toast”, fini, over it, give up, surrender. Sometimes “done” means finished, completed, accomplished. Sometimes it might mean both. For me anyway. Maybe sometimes God waits for me to say, I’m done. I can’t. It’s too big. I release it to you. And then…(sometimes only then…) He steps in to complete the work He had begun…and then the beautiful work is truly done, fini,…

Hurts Deep hurts that aren’t dealt with Can turn into Hate deep hate that infects and infests hearts deep deep into the heart And the healing? Deep healing? It takes ReOpening the hurts, those deep hurts, and feeling and reeling and dealing- then…healing and forgiving …and then living with hearts that hurt and heal and love and feel and in time HOPE Oh my friend– feel,…

I’ve heard of ‘the road less traveled’ I’ve walked it a mile or two I’ve seen my own road unravel Horizon so not blue but oh the grace that’s met me On this unchartered course My Savior never leaves me Hope overrides remorse For there have been such blessings some in disguise, some clearly seen….. I know that He is with me- what peace that brings to me Peace comes amidst the…

“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” ~ Lewis Smedes Question: Seriously? Even when the offense is so deep and horrific and impactful? Thought: Forgiveness is only necessary when there has been an offense. Sometimes that offense has been incredibly great. Question: But doesn’t forgiveness mean you’re making light of what is done? You’re allowing the…

There’s a stretch of trees between where I live and where I used to live. If you’re driving in the late afternoon, early evening, you’ll see a beautiful show of shadows– darkness and light all over the field. It’s such a visual for me of light shining through the dark. The silhouettes of the trees only add to the beauty of this scene, and they can even make the light seem brighter when compared…

So a few days ago I told my husband I was tired of being brave. Yep. Tired of it. I wanted a nap, a respite, and chocolate. I wanted to yell a bit too. And cry. And maybe even tantrum. I did eat chocolate. And I drove pretty fast with the windows down. And I lifted my voice and sang pretty loud and didn’t care who heard. And the cool thing is, I know who heard. He always does. And He tells us…

The winter is coming to a close. It’s the first day of March, and boots gave way to sandals today. It’s been unseasonably warm in North Carolina and the warmth is slowly melting away any hopes I have had of a good long snow this winter. I always love a good snow. It white washes the world a bit and helps things come to a halt around here. As a teacher, well, I so look forward to having an…

“A bruised reed He will not break” Oh but a bruised reed will bend And when the waters rush and the earth gives way  Lord let your mercy move and mend Move like water in shallow shores Where the current ebbs and flows May the woundedness and desperate need Be mended in this reed I know My knees they bend My heart does break I know that only You can save! Oh Jesus send Merciful…

In the quiet of this moment Oh my friend be still and know there is grace to live this moment To hold on and to let go In the quiet of this moment May your heart find strength to see Deepest beauty Amidst deep sorrow Oh how joy can walk with grief For in the moment in the quiet May the love that IS -surround Surround you and your sweet mom with the love that is profound Deeper,…

When realities blow chaff in the wind When real life burns dross away When the depths of grief are surfacing oh God help us seek your face When the fire burns so deep within And fear rises to the heights Oh God let your Word ring loud and clear You are with us in darkest of nights When the Voids within are hollow coves Fill us with your Words of Life You can use the heights and lows To…

I love the cover of the journal I have right now. It says “Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” Yep. And I’m not talking just about stuff, material things. Nope, it’s about so much more than that. Am thinking gratitude does change things in big ways. The cool thing is that oftentimes it doesn’t take big steps to make big changes. Nope. It just takes little noticings (my new word) –little…

I pray you see the morning light That darkness won’t prevail that you’ll be focused on the fight the will to live unveiled the will to live, the ray of hope oh seek it with your all we love you more than anything please answer to love’s call we can’t control the choices made You’ve said it time and again the choice to live , the will to give Yes, It is in your hands Yes, in your hands…