A Mother's Heart - Part 5
This is the conclusion of a five-part entry written by “Anonymous". Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4 Keep Calm and Carry On When I was a young mother, I distinctly remember thinking about how…
A Mother's Heart - Part 4
This is the fourth of a five-part entry written by “Anonymous". Read Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 A Marian Response A good priest friend of ours (Ah yes…another one of those good priest friends.…
A Mother's Heart - Part 3
This is the third of a five-part entry written by “Anonymous". Read Part 1 and Part 2. Checking Boxes Let’s admit it, we have ALL looked askance at our neighbor and said in our heart of hearts, ‘I’m…
A Mother's Heart - Part 2
This is the second of a five-part entry written by “Anonymous". Read Part 1 here. “Got any tips for being a saint?” When my daughter was little, back when we only had half of the number of children…
A Mother's Heart - Part 1
This is the first of a five-part entry written by “Anonymous". Let me begin selfishly…by talking about me. I am an only child. My parents divorced when I was 7. I lived with my mother throughout my…
Into the Snare
Psalm 66 "...You led us, God, into the snare..." What? Why would God lead us into a snare? That sounds cruel! Not like the behavior of a supposedly loving, concerned Father. I'm not sure I can love…
The Chaste Man Loves Differently
He does not see humans as objects…but as children of God. Others sense his pure motivations. Old and young, men and women; all feel secure in his presence. He does not seek his own gain. He loves…
Little Miracle
I am 24 years old now. I was born with congenital heart disease, which led to my three open heart surgeries - at 13 days old, 2 years old, and 13 years old. The trauma resulted in childhood seizures…
Cultivation
My tastes, habits, and desires are almost all cultivated. Whatever I tend in the field of my life is what will grow strongest and remain hardy even in times of drought. I regularly cultivate two…
What Have I Received from Encourage?
A place to tell our story – When a family member first comes to our Encourage group, he or she is given as much time as needed to tell their story. In my case, I probably spent an hour or more on the…
