Six things not to say to someone struggling with suicidal thoughts
I was flying home on a small commuter jet with two seats on either side of the aisle. I was by the window. A mother sat next to me and her two sons…
Overcoming the need to prove yourself
It happened again. The overwhelm hit me. In the midst of school starting, schedules changing, and bedtimes shifting, I became half-paralyzed by…
What parents should know about senior year
“This is the beginning of the end.” I remember thinking this thought the entire summer before my senior year. I was terrified and did not feel ready…
How to fall apart well
I am a mom of four kids and I just recently learned how to fall apart. As a young toddler, I lost my dad and older sister in a car wreck. My mom…
The prodigal’s mother
Originally published on Foundations with Janet Denison I‘ve taught the parable of the prodigal son from Luke, chapter 15, many times. It never…
I'm afraid to have kids and that's okay
I always thought I would go to college, find my husband, graduate, get married, and have my first baby by the time I turned twenty-five. If there was…
Leaning into God's promises
I had a text: “Mom, I am terrified.” I read it out loud to Brett. “You okay?” I texted back. My husband and I were at the beach. My mom was watching…
A college freshman’s advice for parents
Hi, my name is Blake Jefferson. I just finished my freshman year at the University of Texas at Austin. I grew up in a small, Christian private…
Finding peace in the midst of transitions
Out of all four seasons, summer and fall typically carry with them the most transitions. And in parenting, we experience the joys and challenges of…
