Each starling adds to the beauty of a murmuration... in the same way, each story adds to the beauty of our life. Here are my stories.
Years ago, I felt like I had been dropped into someone else's hellacious life. I watched my life burn to the ground and all that remained was ash. In those painful moments I heard God speaking something significant about those ashes. He asked me to take the ash with me. He said, “Elise, don’t scatter the ashes. I have a purpose for them.”
Read MoreHave you ever started out running one errand, but found yourself running an errand for someone else instead? Let me tell you — God is one smooth dude. I thought I was running to town for eye liner and dog food. However, both stores on my list were closed. So I ran to Target.
I walked into the makeup section to search for my brand, but my focus was immediately shifted to Paul. Paul was the older gentleman who was timidly walking the aisles of the beauty section. He looked lost. I watched from a distance as he looked carefully at the products and then referred back to his phone.
All of a sudden I heard words exiting my mouth, "Do you need help finding something?"
Read More“God… I feel robbed. I know You aren’t the one who took that life from me. But I miss it. I miss the comforts of a big house. I miss my friends and the sense of community we shared. I miss the time I got to spend with my kids. I know You’re the one holding things together for me — but I feel robbed. It’s not just about the things that were taken from me. It’s a life I loved and now it’s gone.”
Read More“Last year things suddenly changed. Choices were made. Choices that hurt. Choices that left us hundreds of miles apart. Choices that felt very similar to the pain of my own divorce.”
Read More“He is for you. He sees YOU. He isn't disappointed in you. You are not an inconvenience to Him. He has time for you. He wants to talk to you every day. He's proud of you. He thinks you are amazing.”
Read MoreI don’t know why he doesn’t feel permission to emote when big things happen, but I know it’s my job as his parent to guide him to a healthy, safe place where he can sort it all out… and shaming him for having emotions won’t get the job done. I realized I needed to give him some tools to help get him out of the pit he was in. I was grasping at a way to gain access to this kid who I sometimes struggle to understand.
Read MoreBefore he went out to face the giant David recognized the very thing meant to protect him was the very thing hindering him and weighing him down. So he took off the ill-fitting suit and went to the battlefield looking very much like himself.
Read MoreIn honor of Valentine’s Day and single adults ‘round the world: let us celebrate and laugh over the ridiculous conversations we’ve endured in our season of solitude. Admittedly, I would love to be taken out for dinner on the most romantic Thursday of 2019. But seeing as we are just days away from V-day and there are no suitors in sight I’ll choose to entertain myself and YOU with some of the oddest conversations I’ve experienced to date.
Read More“We didn’t go to see stuff. We went to see people. We went to see our people… and when you’re with your people there’s no pressure to perform.”
Read MoreAfter my divorce, I was told by well-meaning friends and family, “You’re going to have men beating down your door to date you.” LIES!!! This has absolutely not been my experience. Not that I would even want this to happen anyway. Honestly, that sounds like a lot of drama and stress.
Over the past three years my dating life has consisted of one confusing night out. (ONE!)
[Insert cricket noises here]
Enter: “The Story”
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