My sons are now sixteen and eighteen, but the days of bending over to care for their needs seems like it was just yesterday. The years I spent investing my life in theirs felt like a mix of chaos, cherished moments and sheer exhaustion at the time. My mothering isn’t over, it’s just entered another… Continue reading Bidding moms of young children to rest in the power of Christ
Author: Sheila Dougal
Ashes, ashes
Photo by Daria Shevtsova on Pexels.com When my thoughts go to your younger years and I hear your deep voice cursing the time, my eyes fill with hot tears and I wonder if singing Jesus Loves Me with you as a toddler was enough. I lit a fire this New Year and watched the hot… Continue reading Ashes, ashes
Peacemaking
As much as it depends on me I'll lose, I'll defer, I'll wait. Not because I'm weak, even though I am. Not because I'm less than, even though I happily consider you greater. Not because I'm not able, not willing, not right. But because I want to walk with you through the night. Through the… Continue reading Peacemaking
Waiting
You could shine your face on me and I would be rescued from this degree of pain I can’t escape. But you don’t. You show me trees and leaves and shine light through the breeze and make fire in the branches with rays from the expanse of your power. And I’m tired. But I’ll wait.… Continue reading Waiting
Purity culture: The fruit of our “lawish hearts”- A book review
A Culture Born from our "Of Works-ness" I'm listening to Dane Ortlund's audiobook version of Gentle and Lowly- The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers on my commute to and from work. Driving home the other day, the narrator read the title of the 20th chapter, "Our lawish hearts. His lavish heart." And as… Continue reading Purity culture: The fruit of our “lawish hearts”- A book review
A weight of glory
This morning before I headed out the door for work, when you were about to jump in your truck and drive to school, I looked up at your face anxious about what you don’t want to face, curious about what you won’t say until it’s too late and then you’ll want to find a way… Continue reading A weight of glory
The question is, is Jesus worth it?
Photo by Daniel Reche on Pexels.com Today at church we sang, "O come to the altar, the Father's arms are open wide. Forgiveness was bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ." As we sang, years of hard marriage and longings for good things I don't have filled my eyes with burning tears. And a… Continue reading The question is, is Jesus worth it?
The problem with starting over and the hope of redemption
Photo by Olya Kobruseva on Pexels.com In the past weeks I've heard nearly the same quote from every weary person I've encountered, “I can’t wait for 2020 to be over.” Today, the sun rose on 2021 and death, disease and evil are still among us. Even in us. New years bring with them an idea… Continue reading The problem with starting over and the hope of redemption
This year
This year I watched the world burnwith anger and liesI watched my sons wallow in the mireand I prayed. This year I watched my friends build theories about conspiraciesand I watched my neighbors wave their flags high. This year I heard cries for justice from the least of us among us and felt strange disdain… Continue reading This year
In me
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com there's a dancer a singer a crafter a word-wielder In me there's a hospital builder a wound washer a home maker a child discipler In me there's a shepherdess a prophetess a pianist a lyricist In me there's a warrior a defender a rescuer a runner a strong-armed carrier In… Continue reading In me