Out Of Order

  Tolerance doesn't mean what we claim There is so much uproar today in our country over the new president. I'm looking on my Facebook newsfeed and there is just so much violence and discord and division. It's awful. And when I think of what is causing the discord, it saddens me. Especially when I think of how relationships and friendships are ruined because of this. Differences . I am different from you and vice versa but that doesn't have to divide us. I have friends and family who voted for the now Commander-in-Chief but I didn't throw our relationship out the window. I will admit, it is hard for me to understand what they saw as being worthy of their vote but I don't want the connection we have established way before Trump ran for office to be dissolved. It can definitely pose a challenge to separate the conflicting beliefs of our loved ones from the way we feel towards them but it can be done. Is a difference worth a friendship? Is it worth a conne...

Be hope. Be hospitable. Cinnamon boiling on the stove. The succulent aroma of homemade sweet potato pie. Carols playing throughout the house. This is Christmas to me. My Christmas this year is going to be very different now that I'm away from my family. I'm going to have to do some major adjusting to what will be my very first Christmas (and birthday) without my mom and sister present. While it's going to be very different, thankfully I'm not going to be alone for this beautiful holiday. I'll be celebrating with the warm and lovely people with whom I share a house. I have been very blessed and am very grateful to have housemates who practice hospitality. That brings me to the amazing message at church this morning. It wasn't too deep nor was it full of hard to understand Biblical jargon. It was easy to get and put into practice. The message was about hospitality. Christmastime is a time where others so often open their homes to friends and family and maybe...

Ms. Angela To my mother,      You are the most influential person in my life, surely you must know that. From the moment I was born, you have loved and cared for me with the deepest and most raw passion I have ever experienced. You mean everything to me, you're my whole world. I thank God for you so much and I never want to experience life without you. You have taught me so much. Because of you, I know how to wait patiently on the Lord. I know how to be patient with people and show grace (though I'm still growing in that area). You've shown me how to live with integrity and zeal for Jesus not with your words, but with your actions, your lifestyle. You've shown me that it's okay to not have a perfect outward appearance and no matter how much I may struggle with that, I cherish it. You spend time with me and genuinely enjoy my company. I am out here living my dreams and making them reality everyday because you encourage me and believe in me... everyday. I...