Truth be told, I don’t usually review my year. I have habits that work fairly well at keeping me on target, so I don’t mess with a system that’s working well. But this has been a year of some significant changes and perhaps my struggles may encourage someone to persevere.

Grief… although my husband died four years ago, I found myself grieving more these last few months. I know you can’t schedule grief, at least I can’t. It seemed to be small things that triggered memories and sadness. My car needed a repair and that was something I didn’t have to handle in the past. I’ll admit that I spoke to his little photo on my shelf and told him that he took really good care of me. And that’s when the tears started. Appreciation… I wish I was more verbal in my appreciation. Although I do remember all the lunches, I made for him through his years of working outside of the home. As his health changed so did his dietary needs. Occasionally I’d sneak in a little note… I’d like to think we both tried to take good care of each other.

Illnesses…I have some family members with significant illnesses. Watching those you love struggle with health issues can be draining, especially the long-term illnesses that tax the energy.  Hospital stays and adjustments to new medications, insurance struggles and changing doctors. Listening to my daughter recount how it took three days and four phone calls to two offices to change her son’s liquid meals. The very nourishment that sustained him was causing issues and his poor momma was caught in authorization glitch. How do you support someone when they don’t live close? I told her that I had been talking to God about her and that I was surprised she found anytime for herself.  And her response was, “Thanks, Mom. It’s good to feel seen.”

Dedication… I’ve made some changes in my writing habits this year. And perhaps you’ve been working on being more diligent in an area too. My writing has always been an outlet for me, but it’s morphed into much more now. In my mind, I now have a boss. I report to my seat on time (most days) and I track my progress. It’s funny that the little check marks I make in my daily planner as I complete my projects feels so good, but it does. And my work is being completed. The photo I took for this blog post was of my daily quiet time notes. This year I have four composition books full of notes that I gleaned from my studies. I now use different colored ink so it’s easier for me to pull out my personal insights to use in my posts. It’s these little changes that make my day easier.

Well, for a year in review, I’d say putting good things in my mind each morning has helped me stay better focused and encouraged. I honestly enjoy my breaks and probably take too many of them and as long as my work is getting done that’ll continue!

Remember to give yourself grace. Every opportunity and challenge teaches us something. May what we learn today assist us in the morrow!

If you can share your big take-away for the year in the comments.

Blessings,

Debbie G

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4

#yearendreview #newyearreflection #writerthoughts

She was only about twelve inches tall, but she spoke to me, and I bought her. Placing her atop my writing area, I hoped that perhaps my words would flow like her long flowing robe.

I loved that she held her heart outside her chest, evident that she held nothing back. She offered love to all who came her way. And as she gave it, her heart enlarged making room for more love.

And how my own heart lurched when she teetered and fell, breaking into pieces. So many pieces… I wasn’t sure she could be repaired. Life was busy then; I placed her broken form back above my writing space and shoved the pieces aside. There she sat for five years until I noticed her again today.

One wing missing. Her base broken and leaning against the books there on the shelf. Missing pieces. What to do with my broken angel? With so many broken places in life could I just let this broken thing go? I looked at her again… she was beyond repair, yet I still loved her.

Now grounded, she could only touch those nearby, but her spirit wasn’t compromised. In her leaning, she found strength in those nearby that supported her. Somehow, in her fragmented state, the bonds of friendship grew stronger.

I lean closer, I see that her heart hasn’t been touched… still complete, unchanged. Out in the open, holding all that she loves close to her chest.

I took her down off her long-standing spot… and dusted her off. Then gently replaced her on her perch, overlooking my words. She is a reminder that there is beauty no matter how broken. And if you can no longer fly, you can still love.

Remember to love…

Blessings,

Debbie G

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

#BrokenButHealed #LearningToLove #FromGriefToGrowth #RememberToLove

I have a summer story to share… I bought a house last year that had a sad exterior.

It was blah color, and I planned to deal with that this year. I made no big travel plans, just a summer of painting as I could and when I could. As a frame of reference, this was a project that I had tackled ten years ago at my last house.

This summer northeast America was hot. Extreme heat with air quality issues tossed in. It just was not conducive to spending time out of doors. That wasn’t much a of a hinderance for me because I’m and early riser and those morning hours were definitely best time to be outside when you’re talking sweat equity.

I had decided to tackle the backyard first, because if it was going to be too much work I’d hire someone to finish the job. And if the color I selected was too bold, no one would know I had messed up.

I’d slip out of the house around 6 AM and work until the sun got hot. And on some days, I’d head out again later in the day and get another couple of hours in. It worked great. I loved the color. The problem I discovered was that I also do the majority of my writing during these wee hours of the morning. My house project which took energy became a priority and my writing was a mere blip in my week.

A little back story: this writing journey that I’m on, initially began as something that allowed me to have adult thoughts while raising my brood of seven. Life was busy and writing kept me pondering the truths of life. And now, writing has become my calling. You see, the novel I wrote came from a dream I had. And I was impressed that I needed to write that dream as a scene in a book. Something that I had never done before. It took about ten years to bring that dream into reality. And I can talk more about my novel at another time, but my writing has now become My assignment. My focus. 

So now back to my house painting. I would get up early as was my custom, spend my normal quiet devotional time and then I felt free to go get my house project done. Somewhere in the middle of week two I felt niggles of concern that I wasn’t writing and posting on my blog page regularly. And that the devotional book I had been compiling had fallen to the wayside. But my house project had to be a priority because it had a time limit, the weather would soon change.

But I wrote the novel because I had been impressed to write it. My new house color wasn’t an impression, just a personal desire. And normally I have lots of things I fit into my day while mostly staying on task.

So, when I was confronted by that voice of concern. I confess I hadn’t been listening well. That day I paused, and I asked if I should go out and paint because it’s morning. I didn’t get a yes, so I sat in my chair and did some writing work.

And this is the encouragement I received: later in the day as the sun began to get low in the sky, I thought about painting again and there was no niggle of concern this time. I ran out and I finished about twice as much work in a short amount of time. I was blessed in the obedience of waiting.

I wondered how many times my desires had taken precedent over what my higher calling would be. I honestly don’t want to consider or even answer that one. I’ll just say this I got my house painted much faster when I got my priorities straight.

The scripture that comes to mind that I’m taking poetic license with today is seek first the kingdom of God and everything else will be added. You can read the exact wording in Matt 6:33.

Yes, my house is a beautiful new color. The summer has ended, and the beauty of fall is here and uh oh, I have camera in my hand.  I’m working hard to stay in my writing brain. I hope this will encourage you to join me in trying to keep a right focus. We’ll both be blessed when we do.

Drop me a note if you like the new color!

Be blessed and be a blessing.

~Debbie G

#SummerProject2025 #BlessedInTheWaiting #rightfocus

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

Yesterday, I was pumping gas and a woman approached me asking if I had any change.  I said no, and she went on to explain she needed a pair of jeans for a job interview that day. When I was silent she moved on. I watched her approach pump after pump with the same message.

I had a mental dialogue going on in my head. “You know, I don’t like giving out money, God.”  And then I thought about my kids and how I’d want someone to respond if they were in need.

I climbed into my car as she headed inside the convenient store. I thought maybe I could buy her some food. I parked near the door and headed inside. She was perusing a snack area and had quickly turned to get into the check-out line when I tapped her on the shoulder and offered her coffee and a meal.

She said, “No thank you. I appreciate it, but I don’t like taking anything that I don’t need. I just need a pair of jeans.”

I argued with myself as I got back in my car and pulled away. And as soon as I got on the main road, I knew I needed to turn around. I made two right turns and caught her as she was crossing the street heading for another parking lot. She took the money I offered and my wishes for a good interview with gratitude.

As I headed for home, I still wondered if I had just been scammed, but I’d like to think that I might meet her again working in a nearby business at the job she got because she presented herself in some new jeans.

Today I’m questioning why I can be so giving with people that I know, but not so with those in greater need. Sometimes I struggle to be a blessing. All this to say, I’m still working on me.

Thanks for listening,

~Debbie G

#lovingYourNeighbor #confessionisgoodforthesoul #AngelsUnaware

The struggle is real.

You’re pulling away. Everything I do or say is wrong.

I gave what I could: a home, food, clothing, fun family adventures and most importantly… love.

If you’re walking away thinking that everything I gave was bad or wrong; if that is what it takes for you to grow and move into the next stage of life, then I release you. I give you freedom to choose to stay or go.

I understand how difficult growth can be. I also know that someday, not far off into the future you will realize just what a gift that you’ve been given. The sweet memories of the laughter and the life we shared will bubble up… up to the surface from where you stuffed them.

I can see that the strong words you use are just a wall you are building to protect yourself from the memories so you can free yourself to move on.

You have my love, and I know that although you may not or perhaps choose to not say it, that you love me too.

So now I do my hardest work and that is on my knees, praying for you, my child. I pray for all those around me hiding in the darkness. I pray for them to see the light and for them to find their way once again.

And I trust in the strength that I’ve been given from above that you will indeed find your way. In the meantime, my tears are being collected, my worn-out jeans have been patched at the knee, and I press on. You, my child, are worth it all. You are etched into my very being… you are mine and you are so loved!  ~ Mom

*I wrote this several years back, but oh how it speaks to my momma’s heart. Indeed, the struggle is real. I hope it will help others who are struggling through this season.

Blessings,

~Debbie G

#SeekingIndependence #SpreadingWings #StrugglingToLetGo

Sometimes in my early morning, you’ll find me at the kitchen sink. I have learned that it’s best to wash my dishes as I dirty them, but occasionally a busy evening gets too long. And the longer they sit, the harder they are to get clean. So, this morning I was scrubbing the inside of my pot and thinking about the outside. The flames of our gas stove really build-up on the surface and it’s practically impossible to keep the exterior clean without a lot of time and energy. I mostly do a quick scrub and keep my pans hidden away. Honestly, it doesn’t bother me much. It’s not like the exterior of the pan affects the food I serve, although some may judge me on how bad my pots and pans look. Kind of like what people do too. There’s a world of judgment on external factors while ignoring the internal ones. A scarred exterior can keep people from even drawing close enough to peek at who you are.

Even the woman who attended Jesus, pouring expensive perfume on his feet, and anointing Him for His task ahead was judged on her appearance. A prostitute. Unworthy.  Her waste of money could have been given to the poor. It was unwarranted external judgment, yet Jesus holds her up as an example stating what she had done will always be remembered as good. And 2000+ years later, this holds true. Jesus looked through to the window of her heart.

Internally, I’ve been dealing with an issue. I have an abscessed tooth. The pandemic complicated matters, and it took ten days to get in to the dentist for the diagnosis. Then an oversight led to waiting another two weeks to get a referral to a specialist. My limited supply of antibiotics kept the infection from progressing, but my body was unable to heal until the needed root canal pulled the infection from my bad tooth. The specialist said that the wait allowed the infection to travel into my empty nasal cavity. Yup, I also now have a sinus infection! Without cleaning out the root I was only getting sicker.

Jesus gave His own example of inward importance within the ordinary. At His last meal, eaten with friends, he held up an everyday cup and said, “This is the blood of my covenant.” His focus was on the drink, not the cup. A promise of forgiveness was offered. An exquisite transaction, His personal suffering for flawed mankind. It’s the very message of the gospel and hope for a condemned world.

Our inner man is either our strength or our weakness. Character shows up in the overflow of the heart. So, as my internal infection clears and I hide away my dirty looking pans, I think about Holy Week. I ponder Jesus’s Walk from the Garden of Gethsemane to the torture of the cross. I am so glad He accepted me in my uncleanliness and was willing to be judged in my place. I’m awestruck that a supernatural God would die for me. It’s beyond comprehension. My choked response is, “Thank you, Jesus.”

Blessings,

Debbie G

NOTE- This message was one of the many I sent to my children during a 9-month period. I called them my ‘Mom Monday emails.’ I will be occasionally posting them here. (original date 3/29/21)

You’ll find both biblical references here: Matthew 26:6-28

#GettingtotheRoot #ACloserLook #OverflowOfTheHeart