Present

July 5, 2026

This weekend reminded me that peace is not the absence of sadness.

I celebrated a dear friend becoming cancer-free.

I watched my little boy make ramen over FaceTime and realized how quickly he’s becoming a young man.

I worried deeply about my older son and wished I could carry more of his burden than I can.

I laughed.

I cooked.

I invented a new meal that made me smile.

I cried.

I rested.

I sat in Sanctuary Corner more than once.

Through all of it, I kept expecting my peace to disappear.

It didn’t.

The emotions came and went, but the peace remained.

I also realized something about myself.

When I’m tired, I sometimes assume my feelings are telling me the whole truth. This weekend reminded me to become curious before becoming convinced. To ask, “What has my heart been carrying today?” before deciding what my emotions mean.

The thing I think I’ll remember most isn’t how exhausted I was.

I’ll remember being there for my friend.

I’ll remember that ordinary moments matter.

I’ll remember that even in a storm, peace doesn’t always feel bright. Sometimes it simply stays.

And sometimes… that’s enough.

💛

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