Just under the surface of our smiles, many of us have stories we’d rather not share. Maybe it’s a decision from a long time ago that we wish we could redo, or maybe it just happened this morning. Parenthood has a way of stirring up stories from our past.

Goodness in the face of badness gets people's attention. It makes people stop and notice that your response wasn't measured in wrong, even though it would have been justified. I was a little wide-eyed when I first read Proverbs 25:21-22, where it says when we give good to our enemies, it's like we're pouring coals of fire on their heads.

If we've chosen to slide, we can also choose to put on the brakes. We can choose to turn, to adjust what we're doing, and change the direction we're going. Jesus knew that Peter would slide and He gently encouraged him.

It’s so easy to want to escape pain and problems. It’s normal for our spirit to feel pressed when trouble comes. Problems strain at destroying our trust in God. It’s normal. Even Jesus’ soul was troubled in the days leading up to the cross.

Arguments suck. As an enneagram 9, I avoid them at all cost, lol. But sometimes they just can’t be avoided. Does conflict mean our relationship is over? As a 9, sometimes it feels that way. 27 years ago, my husband and I agreed to not threaten divorce, and it’s worked for us so far.

Have you ever felt like Lazarus? Dead + buried for 4 days, when Jesus says, “Lazarus, come out!” Man, what a day! He literally brought Lazarus back to life. What would you think if you saw this happen? Maybe we have a hard time imagining this actually happening. But Jesus does the same thing for us, when we believe. He raises us from the dead, He resurrects our lives.

God doesn’t speak to me. It’s easy to think this when we’re spinning. We feel alone + afraid. Maybe we’re trying to control our emotions, but past traumas have a way of dragging us under. And we’re trying to stop, but it’s hard. It’s hard to stop ourselves from going back to old patterns.

It’s easy to know we shouldn’t talk bad about other people. But what about when we tear ourselves down? When we discourage, discount, demean, and dismiss our own worth or ability...even if we’re ‘only’ talking inside our head, we still hear our internal voice. And sometimes it can be pretty loud.

One of the most beautiful things in the world is hearing a child’s first question. As a parent, it fills us with pride and we think our little one might possibly be the most amazing person in the world.

The middle is our proving ground. It’s where life might hurt, or get tiring, or feel empty. Our eyes are on later, and we’re hoping that whatever it is that’s weighing us down might just fade away.

There’s beauty in the way a child gives a hug, so full and free. You can feel their emotions because it doesn’t cross their mind to be stingy with love. They don’t realize it yet, but they’re busy refreshing people. Their whole spirit working in harmony with their Creator, just loving people. Unbeknownst to them, they’re God’s modern witnesses.

We like to think bearing God’s image is something we control. As if it’s up to us to do it...if we’re being “good” people. I think it’s something else completely.