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 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.

I’m sorry.

What do we do if people won’t say it?

Do we hold it against them?

Do we wait for someone to humble themself?

Or do we decide to make a change for ourselves?

A quiet, internal shift of choosing to forgive.

Sadness lingers

Maybe you don’t walk with your mom anymore

Maybe it’s been years, or days

You’re single and there’s no one to prompt your littles to love you extra special

Maybe you long for motherhood yourself

And though you’ve tried, there’s no baby to hold

Jesus knew that after Peter failed 3 times, he would come back. And in an act of love, Jesus prayed for Peter’s faith not to fail, even though Jesus knew exactly what Peter was about to do.

It was her first garden since she was a little girl growing up in Illinois. For me, it was blood, sweat, and tears.