Making Waves

My heartbeat was rapid and I was covered in sweat. I did my best to remain calm. Over an hour had passed and it was only by the grace of God that everything turned out okay. I’d just got finished convincing a woman to not end her own life. When she explained what she was about to do, I froze at first.  You got this, stay calm … was the thought that settled in my mind. I didn’t want to scare her (although I was scared too) so, I stayed as calm as I could as we talked. I was mindful to avoid using the line, “You have everything to live for…” that people use far too often when helping someone through this kind of crisis. Instead, I just asked her what was going on.  In a past season, a friend of mine was contemplating suicide and we were able to talk through things, so I did what I did with my friend.  I just  listened . And I understood how she felt.  While I’ve never been pushed to the point of suicide, I know exactly what it fe...

I’ve been considered a villain in different people’s stories. No matter how kind and loving you are,  everyone  is capable of being cast as a villain in someone else’s story. Sometimes it happens intentionally. Other times it just  happens . And I will submit that the traditional definition of a villain won’t always be what or who  you think, either. We all make mistakes and have our own versions of the truth in the roles we’ve played in other people’s lives. Especially regarding severed ties in different relationships. This became clear to me one evening as I was writing and reflecting on the various roles I’ve played in the demise of some of my own past relationships.  I’m a great listener. A lot of people, even strangers, have come to me with their problems and wanted guidance, help, mentorship, counsel, or some spiritual insight. And while I know God’s called me to help people, I’m not a licensed counselor... although different people have encouraged me...

  Who knew farm life could be so fun? I never thought I’d enjoy spending time with goats, rabbits, kittens, and other animals until I visited Bergey’s Breadbasket in Virginia Beach. A friend and I went to visit Bergey’s one weekend and had a blast chillin’ with different animals on the farm, along with enjoying views of the country road and delicious ice cream available at the farm location. If you’re in the Hampton Roads area, be sure to check out Bergey’s Breadbasket. You’ll enjoy it. Do something fun this weekend and enjoy yourself. TGIF! 

I like life to make sense. I’m a type A personality and will overthink and sometimes overanalyze something to the point of exhaustion. When life doesn’t make sense, I find myself full of unanswered questions and at war with God, myself, and sometimes, other people. I like to know what’s happening and  why . I’m not a fan of unpleasant surprises and I don’t enjoy being caught off guard. In a lot of ways, I like a degree of predictability and knowing what’s going to happen next so I can get in front of whatever lies ahead. Words like  focus ,  plans ,  direction, details , strategy ,  understanding,  and  organization make sense to me. Things like irresponsibility, dysfunction, bad planning, and poor time management annoy me. And when life happens and throws me for a loop, I find myself having to adjust even when it’s uncomfortable and unpleasant. And I don’t like it. Not one bit. I also don’t like living with questions l...

When Mary's boyfriend revealed he was gay, it turned her world upside down. She was distraught at first, but later believed she got a sign from Jesus to do what she could to help him. She tenaciously aimed to straighten things out. She did some research, sought counsel from some Christian friends, and decided the only way to fix her relationship was to offer her boyfriend her virginity.  She firmly believed Jesus led her to this decision. But it came with  serious  consequences… Her boyfriend was still gay. When his parents found out, they sent him to a center that  fixed  fallen Christians. When she revealed this news to her friends they didn't take it too well. In fact, like most Christians, they made offensive remarks, distasteful comments, and gossiped about what happened instead of being there for their friend. And on top of everything, Mary later found out she was pregnant. It was her senior year of high school. Her boyfriend was being sent aw...

I enjoy expressing myself through writing and letting people get to know me through my work. That said, I thought it’d be fun to share some different things you probably don’t know about me. This is a fun exercise and if you have time, you should make your own list too. Enjoy  J   ·        I was a safety patrol in elementary school. Being an 11-year-old with that kind of power was too cool. Plus, getting a badge, hat, and safety patrol of the month made the job even better.  ·        I have a shoebox full of handwritten letters and keepsake cards from different occasions and seasons of my life. I  love  handwritten letters – they’re so thoughtful. ·       My parents were originally going to name me  Echo . ·       Jim Carrey is my favorite comedian. He’s hilarious!  Dumber & Dumber, The Cable Guy, and  Liar Liar  are ...

Carnivals are a blast! Although, I get more excited about eating cotton candy and funnel cake than actually riding rides. I can’t be the only one who does this, right? This summer a carnival came through my hometown and even though the summer heat was brutal, I pushed through it to take in the sights, sounds, food, and rides. I loved going to carnivals when my brother and I were kids. My parents made sure it was something we got to do together as a family whenever it was in town. Going as an adult was almost as fun as it was back then. Also, consuming unhealthy amounts of cotton candy and funnel cake definitely made for an interesting sugar-induced nap and an awful tummy ache later… clearly, my stomach is nothing like it was when I was a little girl, but regardless, the carnival was still a good time. If and when the carnival comes to your area, you should go. Do something fun this weekend and enjoy yourself. TGIF!