Her words resonate deeply within me. Author/speaker Jen Hatmaker says, “Lord, teach me to parent the child I have, not the child I was or the kids I thought I would have.” For me, the struggle between expectation and reality became a fierce game of tug and war. For my husband and me, the […]
Mental Health
How You Can Help a Family With a Child Who is Affected by Mental Illness
Families with a child affected by a mental/neurological disorder often live a chaotic and stress filled existence. Often, the struggle is invisible to the public. Unknown to even neighbors, a series of chronic storms erupt inside the home. Furthermore, stigmas make seeking support challenging. Parents struggle to give time to all of their children […]
Soul Care-After an Unexpected Descent Into Depression
Without warning, I found my mental state rapidly shifting. For one week in late March, it seemed to spin out of my control. Increasing anxiety gripped my soul, its force building stronger each day. Suddenly, the anxiety transformed into a deep depression. Never had I felt such a heaviness pressing upon me. After a few […]
Regarding Mental Health: How the Church Can Be Supportive
T This piece was originally posted on http://forum.covquarterly.com/how-can-the-church-be-supportive-a-response-to-amy-simpson/ in response to an article published in The Covenant Quarterly. Amy Simpson’s article, “Supporting Families Living With Mental Illness” resonated deeply with me. Her story speaks of a journey that many walk in silence; one with which I am all too familiar. I am ordained in the […]
You are Not Alone: Hope for Parenting in Those Unexpected Moments
Upon giving birth to my first child, I was determined to be “that mom”-the one whose children would never fall prey to the sneaky dangers surrounding them. The phrase “My kids would never do THAT” echoed in my mind. What is “THAT” exactly? Electrical outlets? Covered (nevermind the fact that I once found a way to […]
What Comes After the Storm of Mental Illness Calms
Now, what?” I asked myself this a few months ago. After years, consisting of very long days, of family struggles with mental and medical conditions, the season began to change. At first, I dared not believe it. So many times, there had been brief glimpses of light as we forged through the darkness. But those […]
