
The Journey of Freedom
As the RESILIENCE conference approaches, I find myself thinking about resilience and compassion, solidarity and freedom. Read More
I just returned from taking our three dogs for a walk through our pasture. It’s a beautiful, sunny, and breezy February day here in Texas. It’s on these daily walks that the Holy Spirit inspires me to write meditations and other Bible-based passages. While I’m walking, I formulate thoughts, and I often go straight to the computer to record them when I get home.
Currently, my world is literally and figuratively very small. I live in a community that consists of a handful of homes and a tiny post office. The nearest town is ten miles away and has a population of 7,000.
Five years ago, I retired from a career as a public-school teacher to care for my three grandchildren. Since then, three more have been added, including nine-month-old twins. Because I’m their primary caretaker, I stay close to home most days. I feel so blessed to have an integral role in the upbringing of my little darlings.
My world as I know it will expand soon. Next month, I am traveling to Israel for an 11-day tour. I will walk where Jesus walked, sail on the Sea of Galilee, and pray in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is my prayer that through this experience, I will grow even closer to my Christ, and that I will be inspired to write more meditations when I return home!
“The Making of a Pearl” is my fifth meditation to be included in The Upper Room. It always amazes me that even an amateur writer from a tiny dot on the map can be included in a global publication. I am assured that God uses the Holy Spirit to inspire those willing to share the Good News—Christ is the Savior of the world, and those who believe and trust in him will have lives that are radically changed. With Christ as our personal Savior, we are assured of an eternity spent with him.
The RESILIENCE conference in 2021 was so uplifting and nourishing. It was wonderful to be with other Christians around the world at this retreat, who truly care about responding to trauma in a compassionate way by teaching spiritual practices to help with grounding and healing.”
Join us for the next RESILIENCE conference on September 29-30, 2023. Learn more at UpperRoom.org/resilience.