Walking With a Friend Who’s Grieving a Divorce
Genevieve’s voice poured through the phone to me. She’s going through court proceedings following a horrific divorce.
Janel Breitenstein is an author, freelance writer, speaker, and editor for GoServeLove.net, a site mobilizing the next generation of global workers. After five and a half years in Uganda, her family of six has returned to Colorado, where they continue to work on behalf of the poor with Engineering Ministries International. Her book, Permanent Markers: Spiritual Life Skills to Write on Your Kids’ Hearts (Harvest House), empowers parents to creatively engage kids in vibrant spirituality.
You can find her—“The Awkward Mom”—having uncomfortable, important conversations at JanelBreitenstein.com, at FamilyLife.com, and on Instagram @janelbreit.
Genevieve’s voice poured through the phone to me. She’s going through court proceedings following a horrific divorce.
I find myself avoiding Christmas for a handful of reasons—not the activities, but allowing the inside of me to truly engage; to worship, enjoy, meditate and be all there.
Today I’m writing for those of you who identify with Thomas more than Peter. Who tend to uncover more questions than answers in your faith.
Some years ago, my family went through quite an upheaval as we transitioned from one country to another.
The transition unearthed in me something unsettling about my own understanding of who God is.
My friend gazed at me through FaceTime, a kind smile on her face. “I just want to let you know that I just counted you saying the word ‘stupid’ six times when talking about yourself.”
When I first found out that my thirdborn was a girl, a real part of me was afraid. I should have been happier to welcome a girl. But the thing is. . . female friendships had left me limping.
Some of the very least favourite parts of my life are the days of waiting. Which, I guess, doesn’t say that much. After all, so much of life is waiting for something.
Someone told me they had stumbled on a great new discipline strategy for their children. When this person caught their child doing something wrong, the child was stopped. The parent would tell them, “That’s not who you are!”
In one sense, that’s true.
Is there such a thing as a monthly sin? Because I think I have one of those. Okay, maybe more often than just once a month.
YMI (which stands for Why Am I?), is a platform for Christian young people all over the world to ask questions about life and discover their true purpose. We are a community with different talents but the same desire to make sense of God’s life-changing word in our everyday lives.
YMI is a part of Our Daily Bread Ministries.
Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible,
New International Version® NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission of Biblica, Inc. ® All rights reserved worldwide.
The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®