All in Comfort
“Your first treatment is the hardest and longest. No need to apologize for crying,” the nurse said. I prayed, Jesus where are you? I know medically there’s no cure, but you can do all things-I need to know You are here.” I clutched mom’s cross necklace that I have worn every day since she passed. Jesus, I need You and I wish my parents were here.
Facing some dark days in my own life, I felt that God was speaking to me through that verse. Life can be like Holy Week yearlong-we must go through some dark Fridays and silent Saturdays to get to the beauty of a Sunday’s sunrise. But throughout it all, we can sing praises to Him.
The underlying message resounded clearly. Do I matter to anyone? Does anyone care enough to stick with me? Will I ever be loved? What is wrong with me?
As I reflected on the story I wondered if I had ever really asked God to comfort me. Sure, I had prayed and asked Him for help with whatever situation I found myself in, but had I ever actually asked Him to comfort me through it?
One of my earliest memories is of a teacher at my church named Gus. I was four years old, but I still remember this big man with a big smile and a big hug. When I walked into his class, he engulfed me with his arms—a hug that went straight to my heart.
When my parents decided to end their 35-year marriage in 2020, my life was shattered in an instant. I couldn’t understand how a God that loved me so much could allow my family to be ripped apart, never to be put back together again.
If you have ever been through a ropes course, you learn a lot about who you are-and even more about your co-workers. The course is there to teach you to work with each other, build trust, as well as grow your confidence.
I listened intently as the doctor described the cancer diagnosis explaining to me the rare form of lymphoma I had and what to expect in the coming days. I asked, “So what is the treatment and when do we start?” In which she replied there were more tests needed to complete for the treatment study. “I will send orders right away. It will take about 2 to 3 weeks to get all the results,” she said.
I don’t know what made me notice the article about birds. But as I scrolled through it, the author said something that caught my eye--birds continue to sing through the pain of a broken wing. The main reason researchers think they do this is to keep predators away.
Comfort becomes something different as you get older. It is no longer a luxury or a reward. It is a necessity. There are seasons when life has taken enough that you can no longer pretend strength is endless.
My daughter is grieving over the death of a friend who took her own life. Death is hard, but even more so when despair leads to an end no one expected. My daughter and I talk frequently, and “How are you doing?” is a question I repeatedly ask.
My mom loved to sew, and she made my clothes when I was growing up. She took such great care in making them that I would often get asked, “Where did your mom buy that dress?” I would proudly say, “She made it for me.” She would do alterations for friends and family. Her work was so well done that she could have opened her own clothing store. But she charged nothing. She said it was a gift that God gave her that she enjoyed sharing.
Hegemony is a noun that means “leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others,” according to Oxford Languages. I looked up the definition one day after hearing the word referenced in a news report.
They’re back! There’s one. There’s another. Look over there. I see it too! The lightning bugs had returned to brighten the evening hours. The girls squealed with amazement at the sight, and my own mind went back to childhood days when we ran to catch them in Mason jars then marveled at the twinkling container.
What’s your default reaction when you're exhausted, frustrated, or in crisis?
For me, it’s chocolate. It always seems to help—at least in the moment!
Growing up, I could recognize my dad’s footsteps, whether he was wearing his work shoes or his favorite worn-out house slippers.
The steady rhythm of his steps comforted me. I knew Dad was nearby, and I felt safe.
Looking at a beautiful mountain range, I considered how life is full of peaks and valleys. There are good moments and bad moments. But at the height of the peaks, I cannot see the valley ahead… just looming past the horizon.
But, for that instant, I could rest in the quiet beauty when all was well. I must not miss those moments, for they are rare among the rush of the world. They exist as God’s good gifts, like His Son, His Salvation, His grace, His love, and His ever-present counselor, His Holy Spirit.
The emotional and physical toll Alzheimer’s takes on the patient and family is grueling. Alzheimer’s is a cruel illness.
But I have learned to capture some beautiful moments in the conversations I share with my uncle who, for the last several years, has been dealing with the disease.
