A Life of Devotion: Resilience Over Time

The Many Faces of Resilience

Let us not grow weary in doing good,
for at the proper time we will reap a harvest. –Galatians 6:9

Some resilience isn’t built in a moment. It’s built over decades of care, adaptation, and love.

Denita always wanted children. Her first husband didn’t. That difference eventually led to divorce. Later, she remarried and had a daughter with Down syndrome. From the beginning, Denita poured herself into therapies, support systems, and advocacy. Day after day. Year after year.

Image Source: Creative Commons Public Domain – Framed Embroidery Chromosome Art” by Hey Paul Studios is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Her daughter now thrives in a group home. She’s independent in her own way, and Denita is proud. Recently, Denita’s husband passed away. Another chapter of loss. Another shift in the rhythm of her life.

She’s grieving, yes. But also continuing. Her life has been one long act of love—and now, of renewal.

Resilience is devotion.
It’s the grace to keep loving, even as life changes shape.

#FacesOfResilience #Undefeated #PoetryAndPrayer #Faith #SacredStories #FaithOverFear #QuietStrength #LoveThatLasts #Grit #Resilience

The Anchor: Holding the Pieces Together

The Many Faces of Resilience

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. –Psalm 46:1

When the center of a family is lost, someone often steps in to hold the pieces together. Sometimes, that someone never expected to be the anchor. But they become it anyway.

Maria’s story is one of these.

She’s a nurse. Her husband worked in healthcare, too. They raised three children together. Then, cancer came—and took him. Her kids were just stepping into adulthood.

Image Credit: “cancer cells” by kanasorhokeshawnidioescagozity is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.

Her only son married, and not long after, he passed away from cancer, too. Her oldest daughter had two young  children when she was diagnosed with a different kind of cancer. She passed away as well, leaving behind two little ones under the age of eight.

Could Maria have dropped out of life? Absolutely. No one would’ve blamed her. But she didn’t.

She became the steady presence. The anchor.  The one who showed up for her daughter’s children, her son-in-law, and the rest of her grieving family.

She didn’t ask for all the roles life handed her. But she embraced them with the fierceness of a mother lion. Her strength became shelter—for everyone else.

Resilience is sometimes quiet.
It looks like caregiving, consistency, and love that steadies others. It’s the presence that says,
“I’ve got you.”
Even when no one says it back.

#FacesOfResilience #Undefeated #PoetryAndPrayer #Faith #SacredStories #FaithOverFear #QuietStrength #LoveThatLasts #Grit #Resilience

Resilience in the Long Battle

The Many Faces of Resilience

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,
endures all things. –1 Corinthians 13:7

Some battles stretch across years. And some love does, too.

What does a family do when a child is suffering and no one can quite figure out why?

Patrice and her husband spent over a decade trying answer that question. Their eldest daughter, Angela, struggled with an eating disorder that didn’t follow a straight path. They traveled across the country, seeking help, juggling care for their other children. All the while trying to maintain a regular routine.

Angela passed away in her late twenties. And after that, nothing felt normal anymore.

This is a story of fierce parental love. Of showing up, even when the outcome is uncertain. Even when the heart breaks.

Resilience is found in the long haul—
in the love that never gives up.

#FacesOfResilience #Undefeated #PoetryAndPrayer #Faith #SacredStories #FaithOverFear #QuietStrength #LoveThatLasts #Grit #Resilience

Layers of Loss: Resilience in the Flood

The Many Faces of Resilience

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and
saves those who are crushed in spirit.—Psalm 34:18

What happens when loss doesn’t come in waves, but in a flood?

Image Source & Credit: All You Need Is Love: Creative Commons Puble Domain
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Lolita’s story is one of those. She spent years navigating gender identity questions with her youngest child. Big questions, tender ones, ones that stretched her heart in every direction. During that time, her marriage began to unravel. Eventually, it ended after nearly twenty years.

And then, the unthinkable. Her youngest child slipped into another world with an accidental overdose. Her oldest was still in college, trying to make sense of it all.

There were no easy answers. No quick fixes. Just the slow, painful process of rebuilding. Of choosing life in the midst of heartbreak. Of waking up each day and deciding to keep loving, even when everything hurt.

Resilience is not the absence of pain.
It’s the decision to keep loving through it.

#FacesOfResilience #Undefeated #PoetryAndPrayer #Faith #SacredStories #FaithOverFear #QuietStrength #LoveThatLasts #Grit #Resilience

Breaking Ground: Resilience in a Male-Dominant Field

The Many Faces of Resilience

She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. –Proverbs 31:7

Some resilience is forged in the workplace. Not in big, dramatic moments—but in the quiet, persistent push against systems that weren’t built with you in mind.

Debbie and Donna, twin engineers, stepped into a world where women were often underappreciated and undervalued. One went into construction, the other into electronics. They faced gender discrimination—sometimes subtle, sometimes not. But they kept going.

Image Credit: Office of History, HQ, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
CreativeCommonsPublicDomain

Debbie built her own consulting firm from the ground up. Donna joined a large manufacturing company and later faced something even harder—the sudden loss of her husband. She was left to raise three children on her own.

Their paths diverged, but their strength was shared. They didn’t just survive. They built, led, and nurtured—teams, families, futures.

Resilience sometimes looks like showing up again.
And again. And again.

#FacesOfResilience #Undefeated #PoetryAndPrayer #Faith #SacredStories #FaithOverFear #QuietStrength #LoveThatLasts #Grit #Resilience

The Spark of Resilience – Introduction

The Many Faces of Resilience

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing a few stories – real faces of resilience. Each post opens with a short reflection or question, followed by a story. Then it closes with a gentle takeaway or invitation. Nothing fancy. Just honest moments and quiet strength.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair—2 Corinthians 4:8

Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back. It’s about the process. The enduring, adapting, and sometimes simply continuing.

When my friend Richard Kelley shared his poem Undefeated, it stirred something in me. It got me thinking about the quiet warriors I’ve known. Maybe you’ve known a few, too. The ones who’ve faced unimaginable loss and still found a way to live, love, and lead.

This series is for them. For the ones who rise, not with accolades, but with quiet courage and a faith that moves mountains.

I asked Richard if I could share his poem with you, and he graciously said yes. It’s a piece that speaks to the heart of this series—what it means to keep going, even when life tries to knock you down.

Here is his poem:

Undefeated by Richard Kelly
Used by permission 10/10/25

#FacesOfResilience #Undefeated #PoetryAndPrayer #Faith #SacredStories #FaithOverFear #QuietStrength #LoveThatLasts #Grit #Resilience

Hey, Honey! I’m Home: Share Admiration

A Series on Love, Relationships, and Bricks

A Seven-Story House of Love

Image Source: “brick wall” by palmerkim29 is licensed under CC BY 2.0 with inserted text overlay

Brick by Brick

Brick 2: Share Admiration

Why?

Because praise is positive.
It’s powerful.
And it fills your honey’s tank right up.

Question:

When was the last time you looked at your honey and thought,

“Wow, I’m lucky”?

Now think about the last time you said it to your partner. Your honey may be a pirate…But they’re not a mind reader.

Mutual admiration is one of the most powerful bricks you can lay.

It’s not about grand gestures or dramatic speeches.
It’s about noticing the small things—and saying thank you.

Did they fold the laundry?
Make you coffee?
Fix something that’s been squeaking for weeks?

Say something!

Practice with me:

“You did a great job, honey.”
“I love how you handled that.”
“Thank you for being you.”
“You are such a honey!”

Tiny compliments are gold nuggets that fill your treasure chest. They remind your partner that they are seen, valued, and appreciated.

So go ahead—be your partner’s biggest fan.

Admire their heart, their hard work, and their humor.

You’ve got this…
Brick by brick

I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Please comment and like this post if you feel led to.

#LoveThatLasts #BuildingTogether #FaithandLove #StrongFoundation #MarriageMatters #BrickbyBrick

Hey, Honey! I’m Home: Build a Love Map

A Series on Love, Relationships, and Bricks

A Seven-Story House of Love

Image Source: “brick wall” by palmerkim29 is licensed under CC BY 2.0 with inserted text overlay

Brick by Brick

In this series, we’re drawing up the blueprint for a lasting relationship—brick by brick.

Let’s zoom out for a moment and take in the big picture:

You’re not just building a life.
You’re building a home. Together.

So, grab a comfy couch.
Snuggle up.

Let’s look at the first essential brick for building a home.

Brick 1: Build Love Maps

Ask questions.
Be curious.
Get to know others’ dreams, fears, and favorite pizza toppings! Think of it as a treasure map to your partner’s heart—without the pirates.

Practice with me:

“How was your day, honey?”
“Is there anything I can do to lighten your load?”

Little questions show you care. And that just might lead you to the gold.

You’ve got this…
Brick by brick
.

I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Please comment and like this post if you feel led to.

#LoveThatLasts #BuildingTogether #FaithandLove #StrongFoundation #MarriageMatters #BrickbyBrick

Hey, Honey! I’m Home: Introduction

A Series on Love, Relationships, and Bricks

A Seven-Story House of Love

Image Source: “brick wall” by palmerkim29 is licensed under CC BY 2.0 with inserted text overlay

Falling in love is fun. Right?

Silly glances, inside jokes, and anticipating what’s next can be intoxicating.
But what happens after the butterflies settle?

That’s where the real magic begins.

This series is all about what comes after “I love you.”

It’s about laying down bricks—
One brick at a time—
to build something that lasts.

Love is a choice.

It’s a sacred commitment.
A rhythm that two people have a lifetime to dance to.

Love is a partnership.

“Hey Cutie-Pie, Are We in Love?” explored the little things that make a big difference. Like laughter, patience, forgiveness, and flexibility.

In this series, we will unpack what it takes to build a home together—brick by brick.

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.— 1 John 4:12

So, are you ready to build?

Stick around if you want to know what it takes for a relationship to last for the long haul.

Grab your tools:

Humor. Humility. And a whole lot of grace.

You’ve got this…
Brick by brick.

I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Please comment and like this post if you feel led to.

#LoveThatLasts #BuildingTogether #FaithandLove #StrongFoundation #MarriageMatters #BrickbyBrick